DRAFT STUDY REPORT August 24, 2020
Prepared for
10419 | Prepared by Iteris, Inc.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION ...... 1 1.1. Project Overview and Purpose and Corridor Plan Guidelines ...... 2 1.2. Statewide Goals and Requirements, Ventura County Transportation Plans, and Sustainability Initiatives Overview...... 3 1.3. US 101 Communities Connected Goals, Guiding Principles ...... 4 1.4. US 101 Communities Connected Process ...... 5 2 EXISTING CONDITIONS ...... 6 2.1. Land Use and Demographics ...... 6 2.2. Travel Market ...... 14 2.3. Freeway ...... 17 2.4. Arterial/Local Streets ...... 21 2.5. Transit and Active Transportation ...... 22 2.6. Safety ...... 27 2.7. Existing Challenges ...... 30 3 FUTURE CONDITIONS ...... 31 3.1. Land Use Demographics ...... 31 3.2. Travel Market ...... 35 3.3. Freeway and Arterials/Local Streets ...... 36 3.4. Transit and Active Transportation ...... 38 3.5. Future Challenges ...... 41 4 PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS ...... 42 4.1. Project and Program List Sources ...... 42 4.2. Project and Program List Categorization ...... 43 5 PUBLIC OUTREACH ...... 48 5.1. Community Contact Database ...... 48 5.2. Digital Outreach ...... 49 5.3. Webpage ...... 49 5.4. Digital Campaigns ...... 49 5.5. Online Survey Tool ...... 49 5.6. Public Workshops ...... 49 5.7. Public Comments Summary ...... 50 5.8. Study Response to Comments ...... 51 6 PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FRAMEWORK ...... 52 6.1. Project and Program Evaluation Methodology ...... 53 6.2. Results ...... 54 6.3. Goal Areas ...... 55 6.4. Total Project Score and Communities Connected Index ...... 56 6.5. Scenario Analysis ...... 64 6.6. US 101 Communities Connected Plan Performance Results ...... 65
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | i
7 FUNDING SOURCES ...... 66 7.1. Federal Funding Sources ...... 66 7.2. State Funding Sources ...... 67 7.3. Local Funding Sources ...... 68 8 Moving Forward...... 69 8.1. A Flexible Framework ...... 69 8.2. COVID‐19 Response ...... 70 8.3. New Baseline and Future ...... 70 8.4. Monitoring and Evaluating Progress ...... 74 8.5. Upcoming Activities and Funding Applications ...... 76
Tables
Table 1 – Existing Land Use, Study Area ...... 8 Table 2 – Existing Land Use within the Study Area by Jurisdiction ...... 10 Table 3 – Existing Population, Household, and Employment Within the Study Area ...... 11 Table 4 – Existing Population to Employment and Household to Employment Ratios Within the Study Area ...... 11 Table 5 – Mode Share by City ...... 15 Table 6 – Journey‐to‐Work Travel Times (minutes) by City ...... 15 Table 7 – Daily Flow / Travel Patterns Within Study Area ...... 16 Table 8 – County‐to‐County Commuting Flows for Workers Living in Ventura County...... 16 Table 9 – County‐to‐County Commuting Flows for Workers Working in Ventura County ...... 16 Table 10 – Service Provider Summary ...... 23 Table 11 – Fixed Route Annual Ridership FY 2017 ...... 23 Table 12 – Bus Stops with Most Daily Boardings and Alightings ...... 24 Table 13 – On‐Demand Annual Ridership FF 2017 ...... 24 Table 14 – Park & Ride Facilities ...... 25 Table 15 – Miles of Existing Bikeways (2012) ...... 26 Table 16 – Type of Collision ...... 27 Table 17 – Injury Collisions ...... 27 Table 18 – Collision Types and Injuries ...... 28 Table 19 – Existing and Future Population and Households...... 33 Table 20 – Existing and Employment and Employment Ratios ...... 34 Table 21 – 2018 and 2040 Mode of Travel Within Study Area ...... 35 Table 22 – 2040 Daily Flow / Travel Patterns Within Study Area ...... 35 Table 23 – Existing and Future Lane Miles ...... 36 Table 24 – Existing and Future Volumes ...... 36 Table 25 – Existing and Future US 101 Volumes ...... 37 Table 26 – Existing and Future Arterial Volumes ...... 37 Table 27 – Growth in Miles of Future Bikeways (2012 to 2040) ...... 40
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | ii
Table 19 – Funded Roadway Projects Summary ...... 43 Table 20 – Funded Non‐Roadway Projects Summary ...... 44 Table 21 – Un‐funded Roadway Projects Summary ...... 45 Table 22 – Un‐funded Non‐Roadway Projects Summary ...... 47 Table 23 – Online Survey Results ...... 49 Table 24 – Goal Ranking Results from the Public Meetings ...... 50 Table 25 – Comments Received from Public ...... 50 Table 26 – Comments on US 101 Freeway ...... 51 Table 27 – Comments on Transit ...... 51 Table 28 – Comments on ATP (Bike/Pedestrian) ...... 51 Table 29 – Summary of Performance Measure Results ...... 54 Table 30 – Summary of Average Goal Area Results ...... 55 Table 31 – 2045 Scenario Comparison...... 64 Table 32 – Relevant Federal Funding Sources ...... 67 Table 33 – Relevant State Funding Sources ...... 67 Table 34 – Relevant Local Funding Sources ...... 68 Table 35 – Active Transportation and Transit Projects and Programs...... 74 Table 36 – On‐going Perform Measure Monitoring ...... 75
Figures
Figure 1 – Study Area ...... 2 Figure 2 – Project Process and Approach ...... 3 Figure 3 – Project Goals ...... 4 Figure 4 – Existing Land Use Map, West ...... 7 Figure 5 – Exiting Land Use Map, East ...... 7 Figure 6 – SOAR Boundaries, Greenbelts, & Regional Wildlife Corridors ...... 8 Figure 7 – Existing Population Density Map by TAZ ...... 12 Figure 8 – Existing Employment Density Map by TAZ ...... 13 Figure 9 – Disadvantaged Communities (2018) ...... 14 Figure 10 – Average Mode Share in the Corridor ...... 15 Figure 11 – Journey‐to‐Work Travel Times (minutes) by City ...... 15 Figure 12 – Existing Daily Auto Trips in and to/from the Corridor...... 16 Figure 13 – Typical Southbound US 101 AM Congestion Patterns and Hours of Delay (Speed <45 mph) ...... 18 Figure 14 – AM Peak Period LOS (Demand/Capacity) ...... 18 Figure 15 – Typical Northbound US 101 PM Congestion Patterns and ...... 19 Figure 16 – PM Peak Period LOS (Demand/Capacity) ...... 19 Figure 17 – Recurring "Bottleneck" Locations ...... 20 Figure 18 – CMP Network Capacity ...... 21 Figure 19 – CMP Network Level of Service (LOS) ...... 21
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | iii
Figure 20 – Fixed‐Route Transit Service ...... 23 Figure 21 – Fixed‐Route Transit Service Bus Stop Typical Weekday Boardings and Alightings ...... 24 Figure 22 – Metrolink and Amtrak Services ...... 24 Figure 23 – Park and Ride ...... 25 Figure 24 – Bikeway Facilities ...... 26 Figure 25 – Workers Commute by Bicycle ...... 26 Figure 26 – Workers Commute by Walking ...... 27 Figure 27 – US 101 Collisions ...... 28 Figure 28 – Arterial Collisions ...... 29 Figure 29 – Pedestrian Collisions ...... 29 Figure 30 – Bike Collisions ...... 29 Figure 30 – Potential Areas of Land Use Intensification, West ...... 32 Figure 31 – Potential Areas of Land Use Intensification, East ...... 32 Figure 32 – Future Population Density ...... 33 Figure 33 – Future Employment Density ...... 34 Figure 34 – Future Daily Auto Trips in and to/from the Corridor ...... 35 Figure 35 – Future AM LOS on Freeways and Arterials ...... 36 Figure 36 – Future PM LOS on Freeways and Arterials ...... 37 Figure 37 – Future SCAG High Quality Transit Area (HQTA) ...... 39 Figure 38 – Future Bikeway Facilities ...... 40 Figure 31‐ Funded Roadway Projects ...... 44 Figure 32 – Funded Non‐Roadway Projects ...... 45 Figure 33 – Unfunded Roadway Projects ...... 46 Figure 34 – Unfunded Non‐Roadway Projects ...... 47 Figure 35 – Communities Connected Website ...... 49 Figure 36 – Communities Connected Goals & Performance Measures ...... 53 Figure 37 – Evaluation Process ...... 53 Figure 38 – Summary of Performance Measure Results ...... 54 Figure 39 – Summary of Average Goal Area Results ...... 55 Figure 40 – Project Communities Connected Index and Cost by Funding ...... 57 Figure 41 – Projects Communities Connected Index and Cost by Project Type ...... 58 Figure 42 – Active Transportation Projects by Communities Connected Index and Cost ...... 60 Figure 43 – Arterial Projects by Communities Connected Index and Cost ...... 61 Figure 44 – Highway Projects by Communities Connected Index and Cost ...... 62 Figure 45 – Transit Projects by Communities Connected Index and Cost ...... 63 Figure 46 – Google Community Mobility Report for Ventura County ...... 70 Figure 47 – Ventura County Unemployment Rate ...... 72 Figure 48 – Ventura County Trips by Duration ...... 73 Figure 49 – Ventura County Trips Less Than 10 Minutes by Mode ...... 73
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | iv
1 INTRODUCTION
The US Highway 101 Corridor through Ventura County is the most important highway corridors in Ventura County, and its importance to Ventura County, the Southern California region, and California cannot be overstated.
Stretching from the rolling hills of Thousand Oaks in the eastern portion of the County, down the Conejo Grade that divides east from west County, through the fertile agricultural plains and productive cities of Camarillo and Oxnard, westward to the Pacific Ocean at the scenic Ventura pier, US 101 connects diverse communities, serves businesses, and connects coastal California to the north, central, and south.
The opening of US 101 helped to accelerate population and economic growth in the county at the beginning of the 1960s, and urban development within the corridor area defines modern day Ventura County. For residents, US 101 serves as both freeway and regional Main Street, carrying both longer‐distance auto trips and serving as a focal point for a string of regional business districts. Whether it’s a daily commute to and from work, early morning drive to surf before starting the day, shopping trip to the outlets or favorite grocery store, weekend trip to watch kids play a favorite sport, or getting together with extended family to celebrate a special occasion, the US 101 Corridor is firmly rooted in the lives of local residents.
US 101 Corridor serves as a critical link for goods movement, carrying freight traffic through the county. For example, US 101, Union Pacific rail, and local arterials serve the commercial Port of Hueneme as a surface transportation connection to markets throughout Southern California and across the United States. Ventura County’s agricultural producers in the Oxnard Plain and Santa Clara River Valley access worldwide markets; biotechnology firms that send and receive ingredients and medicines in and out of their laboratories; and manufacturing firms that transport raw materials, goods, and finished products to and from factories all use the 101 Corridor.
US 101 is the primary reliever road to Interstate 5, serving as a secondary option for the freight and other traffic traveling between Southern and Northern California. While I‐5 is the backbone of California’s statewide surface transportation network, when that critical connection is affected by severe weather, natural disasters such as wildfire, construction, or a major accident, particularly on the stretch of I‐5 known as the Grapevine between the Los Angeles area and the Central Valley, US 101 is the preferred alternate route. US 101 plays a strategic role in having a resilient state freeway network.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 1
For California’s statewide and Central Coast regional tourism economy in analyzes demographic and economic data, considers existing and future land use, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Monterey Counties, US 101 and inventories planned transportation infrastructure projects throughout the US Corridor carries families and friends to enjoy the State’s beaches, wineries, and 101 Corridor. It provides a roadmap for collaboration across jurisdictions and historic sites, the highway itself a scenic treasure as it passes through coastal development of funding priorities for future investments in infrastructure mountains and along the coast. Many of Ventura County’s tourist destinations throughout the corridor to improve connectivity, reduce vehicle miles travelled, are located within the corridor including the Ventura Pier, San Buenaventura and better serve the residents, businesses, and visitors of Ventura County. State Beach, San Buenaventura Mission, Historic Downtown Ventura, Camarillo Premium Outlets, and various open space hiking and bicycle trails.
As part of the National Strategic Highway Network, US 101, Victoria Avenue, and Las Posas Road in the corridor also serve the National Defense. The highway and arterials provide ground transportation for U.S. Navy Seabees and their equipment to travel from Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Port Hueneme to field training areas at Fort Hunter Liggett in San Luis Obispo County. U.S. Marines travel via US 101 to NBVC Point Mugu and Port Hueneme for major training exercises from Camp Pendleton in San Diego County and beyond. US 101 provides an important link between unique and important military assets throughout California.
The US 101 Corridor serves as a conduit between Ventura County workers and jobs. Half of all population and jobs in the county are concentrated in the corridor and workers travel across the corridor to reach jobs in the cities of Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, and Thousand Oaks. Tens of thousands of corridor residents working beyond the County boundaries commute daily on US 101 or take commuter trains between US 101 Corridor stations and Los Angeles (Union Station).The Metrolink/Amtrak commuter rail lines runs through the US 101 Corridor serving Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego and counties.
The need for a shared vision and comprehensive plan for the US 101 Corridor is more important than ever considering the central role the US 101 Corridor plays in the vitality of Ventura County, the Southern California region, and the State. As the transportation landscape changes in the wake of a global pandemic and in the face of climate change, increased demand for housing, an emphasis on active, healthy lifestyles, and job creation and economic recovery, the traditional concept of roadway infrastructure focused on single occupant vehicles and congestion management is not sufficient to meet local, State, and national goals.
101 Communities Connected seeks to foster a resilient, sustainable, and efficient transportation future for Ventura County to meet the many and diverse needs of the communities served by US Highway 101. This multi‐modal corridor study
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 1
1.1. Project Overview and Purpose and US 101 Communities Connected serves as a transportation blueprint for future projects and programs within the corridor. The enhancement of mobility options Corridor Plan Guidelines along the corridor is vital to the continued economic health of the County. To fund corridor improvements, all sources for potential funding should be 1.1.1. Corridor Definition considered. One of the most promising potential sources is the Road Repair and The study area for this project is shown in Figure 1. It generally includes an area Accountability Act of 2017, or Senate Bill (SB) 1. three miles wide on either side of US 101 from SR 23 to SR 33, and includes all or parts of the cities of Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo and Thousand Oaks, as well as SB 1 created the Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (SCCP), which parts of unincorporated communities in Ventura County. The significance of the continuously appropriates two hundred and fifty million dollars ($250,000,000) corridor area is underlined by the fact that it encompasses approximately half of annually to be allocated by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) to the Ventura County’s overall population and employment. projects designed to achieve a balanced set of transportation, environmental, and community access improvements within highly congested travel corridors Figure 1 – Study Area throughout the state.
Beginning with the 2020 Program, all projects nominated for the SCCP must be included in a Multimodal Corridor Plan designed to reduce congestion by providing more transportation choices, while preserving the character of the local communities of Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo and Thousand Oaks. The US 101 Communities Connected Study will serve as the roadmap for future multimodal corridor planning within the study area.
1.1.3. Corridor Plan Guidelines US 101 Communities Connected identifies a comprehensive list of proposed transportation improvement projects and evaluates those projects and programs
in a multimodal context using the Caltrans Corridor Planning Guidebook and the The volume of traffic on US 101 in the project area varies from a high of just over CTC’s Comprehensive Multimodal Corridor Plan (CMCP) guidelines. This report 200,000 daily trips in Thousand Oaks near SR 23 in the east, to approximately provides an overview of existing and future conditions, public input, 150,000 mid‐corridor in Camarillo, to a low of 75,000 west of SR 33 at the documentation of projects and programs, and multimodal evaluation of the western end of the corridor. These varied traffic flows yield unique congestion projects. The report is organized as follows: patterns and operational issues from both the geographic and time of day
standpoint. As a result, traffic congestion and recurrent delays are prevalent along the corridor and are forecasted to intensify in the future. Existing and Future Conditions Review – Preparing a Multimodal Corridor Plan requires a keen understanding of existing and future land 1.1.2. Study Purpose use patterns, travel markets and patterns, and the underlying multimodal transportation infrastructure in the study area. This analysis To understand the mobility issues facing the corridor, Southern California considers how existing and future users of transportation infrastructure Association of Governments (SCAG), Ventura County Transportation Commission and services will affect operation, maintenance, availability, and (VCTC) and Caltrans initiated the US 101 Communities Connected study. US 101 conditions of multimodal infrastructure. Communities Connected assesses mobility challenges and opportunities with the Engage Public and Policy Makers – Public outreach and participation are ultimate goal to identify multimodal infrastructure improvements that key parts of the US 101 Communities Connected Study. Comprehensive strengthen mobility for everyone travelling in the US 101 Corridor – from drivers public involvement is crucial to the success of the project. Through and bicyclists to pedestrians and transit riders – while balancing factors such as interactive community workshops, digital engagement and targeted climate change, land use development, social equity, and advanced technologies.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 2
outreach, focused on disadvantaged communities, the outreach program 1.2. Statewide Goals and Requirements, accomplished the following goals: o Help to educate the public about the US 101 Communities Ventura County Transportation Plans, Connected study, including its purpose and the important role it will and Sustainability Initiatives Overview play in Ventura County’s transportation future. o Solicit input from the public and stakeholders, including special Signed into law in 2006, Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32) requires California to lower needs populations and disadvantaged communities, on statewide Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Passed in transportation needs and priorities in the US 101 Corridor. 2008, Senate Bill 375 (SB 375) supports the implementation of AB 32 by Identify Planned Projects and Programs – A number of sources are encouraging planning practices that create sustainable communities. SB 375 also reviewed to identify planned projects within the study area including, but charged the California Air Resources Board (CARB) with setting regional targets not limited to, local agency Capital Improvement Programs (CIPs), the for reducing GHG emissions by 2020 and by 2035. It also calls for California Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP), 2020 SCAG Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), such as SCAG, to prepare a Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy Regional Transportation Plan / Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS). The (RTP/SCS), and Short‐Range Transit Plans (SRTP), as well as coordination RTP/SCS must show how the region will meet its goals for reducing GHG with local agencies to ensure an all‐encompassing list. emissions from automobiles and light trucks. Evaluation Framework – A project evaluation framework is developed to determine how each project would perform relative to the goals and By many metrics, progress has been made toward meeting these ambitious guiding principles; and how it would benefit the overall corridor goals. The multimodal transportation network has been expanded by adding performance. bike lanes, investing in transit, and completing mobility and safety projects. Much needed revenue to continue this expansion is being provided with In summary, US 101 Communities Connected involves careful consideration and passage of SB 1, a funding bill that generates $52 billion statewide over the analysis of a wide range of transportation‐related issues, including land use, next ten years. However, the continuation of the historical trend of population personal mobility across all modes, social equity, and advanced technologies. The and job growth, falling transit ridership despite investment in transit, and rise challenges of fostering an efficient and equitable transportation system create in traffic collisions are challenging the progress. Ventura County adopted a opportunities to take a fresh look at the US 101 Corridor and bring 21st century Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) in 2013 to preserve and enhance the solutions to this historically complex transportation corridor. The overall process special quality of life enjoyed in Ventura County by residents, businesses and is illustrated in Figure 2. visitors through a transportation system that supports State goals and objectives. The CTP defines the overarching “Shared Vision” as: Figure 2 – Project Process and Approach “A connected and integrated transportation system that provides convenient, safe and accessible options. This system is inclusive of all community members and needs, balancing all interests. It is intended to be built from a sustainable plan that reflects local priorities.”
Comprehensive Transportation Plan Goals
Preserve Quality of Life Connected and Integrated Transportation System Convenient and Accessible Options Inclusive of All Community Members and Needs Safer Travel in Ventura County Regional and Local Priorities
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 3
The CTP is in line with the Southern California region’s 2020 RTP/SCS, Connect 1.3. US 101 Communities Connected Goals, SoCal ((2020 ‐ 2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy), that moves toward a more sustainable multimodal transportation Guiding Principles system allowing people to move freely without the expense of a car. The 2020 RTP/SCS invests in projects and programs that would improve overall mobility US 101 Communities Connected builds on the Comprehensive Transportation while balancing safety and environmental considerations. The Connect SoCal Plan and Connect SoCal and reflects a shared vision for the future of the US vision is: Highway 101 corridor in Ventura County. The Study analyzes a wide range of issues to improve mobility to benefit all people by providing more choices for the “Build upon and expand land use and transportation strategies highly travelled US 101 Corridor. It aims to preserve community character and established over several planning cycles to increase mobility options create opportunities for neighborhood enhancement. and achieve a more sustainable growth pattern.” This comprehensive approach addresses congestion and quality‐of‐life concerns related to transportation within the corridor through investment in transportation Connect SoCal Goals projects and programs developed in collaboration with State, regional and local partners. It is consistent with the goals and objectives of the 2013 CTP, 2020 RTP/ Encourage regional economic prosperity and global SCS and SCCP guidelines. The goals and guiding principles of the US 101 competitiveness Communities Connected study are developed to improve the overall corridor Improve mobility, accessibility, reliability, and travel mobility while balancing safety and environmental considerations as shown in safety for people and goods Figure 3. Enhance the preservation, security, and resilience of the regional transportation system Figure 3 – Project Goals Increase person and goods movement and travel choices Safety and Health – Improve safety and health by reducing the within the transportation system frequency and severity of safety incidents and hazards for all Reduce GHG emissions and improve air quality modes, improve air quality, and provide safe routes for children to Support healthy and equitable communities get to school. Adapt to a changing climate and support an integrated Social Equity – Be inclusive of all community members and their regional development pattern and transportation network needs by ensuring a fair share of benefits of the transportation Leverage new transportation technologies and data-driven system for disadvantaged communities, provide viable solutions that result in more efficient travel transportation options for people who do not have cars, and Encourage development of diverse housing types in areas improve workers’ access to jobs. that are supported by multiple transportation options Promote conservation of natural and agricultural lands Multimodal Mobility – Improve mobility and accessibility for a connected and integrated transportation system by reducing and restoration of habitats Vehicle Miles Traveled, congestion and delay, increasing throughput and reliability for all users, and increasing transit
ridership and active transportation participation. Connect SoCal incorporates policies to encourage emerging technologies, mobility innovations, and locating housing, jobs and transit closer together in Robust Economy – Improve freight movement while mitigating its priority growth areas while preserving natural lands and open spaces. It also impacts, manage curb demand, and improve access to jobs. contains a fiscally constrained list of projects and programs to achieve its vision, goals and policies.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 4
Environmental Stewardship – Preserve and increase access to Definition of Transportation Metrics habitat and open space, reduce GHG emissions and improve air quality. Vehicles Miles Traveled (VMT) – VMT is a common measure used in transportation planning to measure the amount of These goals and guiding principles provide a foundation to develop a holistic travel for all vehicles in a geographic area over a given period approach to mobility by identifying hotpots, finding multimodal solutions, and of time. creating a path for implementation of projects and programs. Projects and programs will be evaluated in a multimodal context in the following areas: Person Throughput – Person throughput is a measure of the total number of people traveling through a roadway. This Reduction in Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) – How will the project measure is often used as an alternative to traditional traffic minimize VMT in the corridor? volume measures, as person throughput captures the impacts Person throughput – How will the project maximize person throughput of transit, walking, and bicycling. in the corridor?
Safety – How will the project increase safety for motorized and non‐ motorized users? Accessibility – How will the project provide access to multimodal 1.4. US 101 Communities Connected choices? Will the project close an existing gap in transit and active Process transportation? How will the project connect to jobs, major destinations, and residential areas? The following Chapters of the report cover each step of the US 101 Communities Economic Development and Job Creation and Retention – How does Connected planning process. The study begins with an analysis of existing and the proposed project improve accessibility to economic opportunities future transportation conditions in the corridor. The next chapters cover the and the movement of goods and services in the region? steps taken to compile the list of transportation improvement projects and Air Quality and GHGs – How will the proposed project reduce programs for the corridor and incorporate stakeholder input through public greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and criteria pollutants to advance the outreach. The report then discusses the study’s extensive performance State’s air quality and climate goals? evaluation framework, the results of the US 101 Communities Connected project Efficient Land Use – How does the project support mixed‐use and infill evaluation, and identifies potential funding sources. The report concludes with development with multimodal choices? Is the project located within a guidelines and recommendations for a path forward to achieve the US 101 half‐mile of a major transit stop? Is the project located in an area with Communities Connected visions and goals. per capita household vehicle miles travel that is 15 percent below regional or city average?
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 5
2 EXISTING CONDITIONS
The US 101 has always served as the main thoroughfare in Ventura County connecting local communities and linking the region to the larger Southern California region and beyond. At the inception of US 101 as a freeway at the end of the 1950s, Ventura County was made up of relatively small oil and agricultural communities with a population of around 17,000. The US 101 freeway and Southern California’s post‐World War II regional economy brought a large population boom to the corridor as working‐class people migrated out of Los Angeles to new Ventura County developments in Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Oxnard, and Ventura. The US 101 corridor has grown to be a major sub‐region in California today, with over 420,000 people residing in the study area. The corridor has also experienced dramatic economic expansion in the same period as new jobs centers grew along US 101 in Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, and Ventura. Today the study area has nearly 200,000 jobs. Overall, the corridor represents over half of Ventura County’s population and jobs.
The current population and economy have brought vitality and wealth to the region, but it has also created significant challenges for the corridor’s transportation network. On typical weekdays, auto and truck traffic volumes during peak commute periods exceed roadway capacities on the freeways and major arterials causing bottlenecks and congestion. In addition to longer travel times incurred by drivers, current traffic levels also correspond to growing negative externalities related to pollution and roadway accidents. Despite these deteriorated conditions from auto‐travel, transit and non‐motorized modes represent just three percent of commutes in the study area. The continued reliance on auto travel in the corridor is a result of long trip distances and limited mobility and connectivity provided by non‐auto modes.
2.1. Land Use and Demographics
Land use, population, and employment play key roles in influencing travel behavior. Developments along US 101 Corridor are primarily concentrated in four incorporated cities separated by unincorporated County lands that predominately contain a mix of agriculture and open space uses. The main urbanized areas are within the City of Ventura, City of Oxnard, City of Camarillo, and City of Thousand Oaks. Each is recognized as a distinct and cohesive community containing the full complement of land uses typical of a suburban city including residential, commercial, industrial, cultural, recreational, government, and services. The highest intensities of development are generally located proximate to US 101, with two exceptions. One area of intensity located perpendicular to the corridor extends south of the freeway in the City of Oxnard and includes the Oxnard Civic Core adjoining the city’s transit center. Another area of intensity extends north of the corridor in the City of Ventura along Ventura Avenue, running parallel to California State Route 33.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 6
Information regarding existing land uses and zoning designations are primarily Figure 5 – Exiting Land Use Map, East sourced from the SCAG 2016 land use dataset, updated in November 2018. The data is based on each local jurisdiction’s input received during SCAG’s 2020 RTP/SCS Local Input and Envisioning Process. The SCAG 2016 land use codes for zoning and existing land use were mapped, analyzed, and refined to correct evident errors.
2.1.1. Development The study area has multiple small business districts and is essentially suburban in nature, consisting primarily of open space, agriculture, and housing. Development is concentrated at multiple centralized nodes and along major corridors. These distinct concentrations of business and commercial development are surrounded by low‐density residential development and separated from each other by undeveloped open space and agricultural uses. Commercial centers and industrial centers typically exist within a quarter or half mile of the US 101 Corridor and higher density housing within a mile of the Corridor, which can be seen in Figures 4 and Figure 5. While land use groupings are oriented along the freeways, the downtown and community core of each city extend along the branching intra‐city corridors, such as SR 23, and city corridors, Source: SCAG like Thousand Oaks Boulevard. 2.1.2. Open Space and Agriculture Figure 4 – Existing Land Use Map, West While development patterns grew organically from the area’s initial settlements, policies to protect agriculture and open space between more urbanized areas have been in effect since the adoption of the Guidelines for Orderly Development (adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 1969, and revised and adopted in 1996), that encourage urban development to occur within incorporated Cities. These efforts are reinforced through voter approved Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources (SOAR) initiatives. The first SOAR initiative passed in 1995 in the City of Ventura; since then other SOAR initiatives passed in the corridor cities of Oxnard, Camarillo, and Thousand Oaks, and unincorporated Ventura County. In 2016, voters approved extensions to SOAR ordinances in through 2050. SOAR initiatives establish City Urban Restriction Boundary (CURB) lines around the cities and require a majority vote of the people to urbanize lands zoned for open space, agricultural or rural land uses. These measures preserve open space and agricultural lands while concentrating development within cities.
In addition to the Guidelines for Orderly Development and SOAR ordinances, Greenbelt Agreements reinforce protections for open space and agriculture lands through voluntary agreements between the Board of Supervisors and one or more City Councils regarding development of agricultural and/or open space areas beyond
Source: SCAG city limits. Cities commit to not annex any property within a greenbelt, while the
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 7
Board agrees to restrict development to uses consistent with existing zoning. of the study area will continue to be protected by the Guidelines for Orderly Further, regional wildlife corridor regulations, adopted by the Ventura County Development, greenbelt agreements, and SOAR policies. Residential land uses Board of Supervisors in 2019, enhance and protect linkages for animal migration make up less than a quarter of the study area acreage. The top three land use to ensure the future health of the County’s natural resources. The objectives of types within the corridor study area are: agriculture, single‐family residential, and these regulations are to minimize direct and indirect barriers to wildlife open space/recreation. movement and reduce vegetation loss and habitat fragmentation, while simultaneously protecting property rights. The regulations create buffers Table 1 – Existing Land Use, Study Area between surface water and road crossings and developed areas, encourage LAND USE ACRES % OF ACRES compact development, and limit outdoor night lighting, impermeable fencing, Residential and planting of invasive species. The SOAR area, greenbelts, and regional wildlife Single‐family Residential 28,023.3 18.67% corridors are shown in Figure 6. Multi‐Family Residential 4,014.7 2.67% Mobile Homes and Trailer Parks 774.9 0.52% Land use policies and patterns in Ventura County concentrate urban growth Mixed Residential 268.2 0.18% within incorporated cities and urban growth boundaries. As such, infrastructure Rural Residential 2,606.8 1.74% improvements and services derived from development fee revenues have been Agriculture 46,638.6 31.07% internalized within each city’s jurisdictional boundaries and in unincorporated Commercial and Office Commercial and Services 4,187.6 2.79% Ventura County. General Office Use 1,275.6 0.85%
Institutional Facilities Figure 6 – SOAR Boundaries, Greenbelts, & Regional Wildlife Corridors Facilities 2,702.1 1.80% Educational Institutions 3,300.9 2.20% Military Installations 7.4 0.00% Industrial 4,966.2 3.31% Transportation, Communications, and 4,991.6 3.33% Utilities Mixed Uses Mixed Commercial and Industrial 520.3 0.35% Mixed Residential and Commercial 8.5 0.01% Under Construction 142.2 0.09% Undeveloped Space Open Space and Recreation 20,618.0 13.73% Vacant 5,269.9 3.51% Water 1,550.5 1.03% Undevelopable or Protected Land 3,442.2 2.29% Specific Plan 887.3 0.59% Unknown 13,925.6 9.28% Total 150,122.2 Source: SCAG
2.1.3. Primary Land Uses City of Ventura As documented in Table 1, roughly 16 percent of the existing land use in the The historic core of the City of Ventura is located directly off US 101 along Main study area is open space, recreation, and undevelopable or protected land, and Street and California Street with its comparatively dense mix of commercial, an additional 31 percent of the study area is agricultural. More than 90 percent office, single and multi‐family housing, coastal‐serving uses, and smaller
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 8
industries. The traditional street grid, small blocks, and shared parking facilities Carmen Drive and Las Posas Road are developed with large scale commercial contribute to the area’s urban character and walkability. A secondary core of centers, including a regional Outlet Center, and professional offices, all of which employment and activity, predominately auto‐oriented industrial and are characterized by large footprint buildings surrounded by extensive surface commercial uses, is located to the east, generally south of US 101 and flanking parking lots. Flanking these uses, particularly to the north of the commercial Telephone Road. Single‐family residential neighborhoods, which make up 36 centers, are multifamily housing developments. Defining the southwestern edge percent of the City’s acreage, extend outward from these areas, with scattered of this area is the Camarillo Airport, a public aviation facility serving general commercial centers and pockets of multi‐family housing. Commercial corridors aviation and executive aircraft. Camarillo Airport is owned by the County of extend parallel to US 101 and SR 33 including Ventura Avenue, Main Street, and Ventura and managed by the Department of Airports. To the east and north of Thompson Boulevard. US 101, employment is concentrated in multi‐tenant office and industrial parks between Lewis Road and Conejo Creek. Like the City of Ventura and City of City of Oxnard Oxnard, single‐family neighborhoods surround and extend outward, primarily to The City of Oxnard’s historic core, which contains a similar mix of uses as the City the north of these centers. of Ventura’s downtown, is located south of US 101 along Oxnard Boulevard and abutting the Oxnard Transit Center, which offers connections between Los Camarillo’s commercial core aligns with US 101, with a concentration of industrial Angeles, local and commuter bus service, Metrolink commuter rail service, development also northeast of the US 101 and SR 34 interchange. Multi‐family Amtrak, Greyhound bus service, VCTC Intercity Service, Gold Coast Transit. In residential and institutional uses are clustered around these two areas. The the core a concentrated mix of commercial, multi‐family residential, educational, majority of the city’s land use is low density residential, which occupies a third of public facilities, and industrial uses are located close to one another. Oxnard the city’s area. Open space and agriculture occupy nearly a quarter of the existing Boulevard is a major connector between US 101 and SR 1, which runs along the land use. coast and connects to US 101 to the east of downtown. City of Thousand Oaks Though City policies emphasize infill and increasing density, particularly of Thousand Oaks is characterized by three primary mixed‐use and activity nodes. housing, redevelopment activity in the City’s historic core has been slow to occur. The community core is a linear corridor parallel to US 101 that extends generally Most recent development and economic activity have occurred north of the core, from Moorpark Road to Hampshire Road, anchored by a regional mall in the west abutting US 101 in proximity to Vineyard Avenue and Oxnard Boulevards. This and a mix of automobile‐oriented businesses and centers, offices, and includes a major project, River Park (also known as The Collection), that is government facilities along its length. A recently adopted Thousand Oaks designed as a pedestrian‐oriented village containing a mix of single‐family and Boulevard Specific Plan promotes the integration of moderate density mixed‐use apartment housing and national brand retailers. Commercial properties south of building and housing in this area. To the east and extending to the City boundary River Park have also been redeveloped. Like City of Ventura, a second center of with Westlake Village and LA County is an area guided by the development jobs and economic activity occurs to the east of the City’s core, flanking Rice master plan for Westlake Village. Here, properties are developed as commercial Avenue, which is the most sizable concentration of industrial development in the centers with larger multi‐tenant buildings, restaurants, and offices fronted by study area. These centers of development are predominately surrounded by expansive surface parking lots and landscape typical of suburban communities. A single‐family housing neighborhoods, which are nearly a third of the City of significant deviation from this pattern is the property at the southeast Oxnard’s existing land use in the study area. intersection of Westlake Boulevard and Thousand Oaks Boulevard planned and developed as The Promenade pedestrian‐active lifestyle center. The third node City of Camarillo located in the west, extends from Wendy Drive to Ventu Park and contains major Camarillo’s urban form and land uses exhibit a more typically suburban pattern of technology and bio‐medical uses abutted by moderate to high density housing. development. A small, pedestrian‐oriented downtown area with restaurants and As found in the other cities in the study area, single‐family housing small shops extends along three blocks of Ventura Avenue between Lewis Road neighborhoods surround and extend outward from these centers and corridors. and Cedar Drive. Lands both north and south of US 101 extending west between
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 9
Unincorporated Ventura County The existing land use and zoning are similar in spatial organization; commercial, The balance of the study area is located in unincorporated Ventura County. This industrial, and multifamily development is concentrated adjacent to US 101. area is relatively undeveloped – more than 60 percent of the existing land use is There is a notable concentration of mixed commercial, office, and industrial agricultural. There are limited single‐family residences scattered throughout the development on the eastern end of the corridor near the Los Angeles County unincorporated area with concentrations adjacent to Thousand Oaks and north border and SR 23. More than 75 percent of the City within the study area is either of Camarillo. Existing land use in the study area is summarized in Table 2. a single‐family residential or an open space and recreation.
Table 2 – Existing Land Use within the Study Area by Jurisdiction CITY OF UNINCORPORATED CITY OF VENTURA CITY OF OXNARD CITY OF CAMARILLO EXISTING LAND USE THOUSAND OAKS VENTURA COUNTY Acres % of Total Acres % of Total Acres % of Total Acres % of Total Acres % of Total Residential Single‐family Residential 5,565.7 36.5% 3,414.8 29.3% 3,465.4 22.1% 10,842.9 31.9% 4,734.5 6.4% Multi‐Family Residential 1,171.9 7.7% 891.3 7.6% 587.7 3.8% 1,329.8 3.9% 34.1 0.0% Mobile Homes and Trailer Parks 280.2 1.8% 107.0 0.9% 174.2 1.1% 211.2 0.6% 2.2 0.0% Mixed Residential 93.8 0.6% 4.3 0.0% 170.1 0.2% Rural Residential 8.3 0.1% 1,833.9 11.7% 764.6 1.0% Agriculture 378.5 2.5% 45.1 0.4% 1,680.5 10.7% 0.1 0.0% 44,534.3 60.5% Commercial and Office Commercial and Services 1,290.0 8.5% 1,088.8 9.3% 579.7 3.7% 1,191.8 3.5% 37.3 0.1% General Office Use 287.8 1.9% 186.9 1.6% 91.8 0.6% 694.1 2.0% 15.0 0.0% Institutional Facilities Facilities 447.7 2.9% 284.9 2.4% 286.1 1.8% 645.3 1.9% 1,038.1 1.4% Educational Institutions 613.2 4.0% 406.7 3.5% 490.2 3.1% 819.5 2.4% 971.3 1.3% Military Installations 7.4 0.0% Industrial 931.9 6.1% 1,709.5 14.7% 1,007.9 6.4% 787.7 2.3% 529.2 0.7% Transportation, Communications, and Utilities 470.8 3.1% 427.0 3.7% 1,189.3 7.6% 354.7 1.0% 2,549.8 3.5% Mixed Uses Mixed Commercial and Industrial 124.1 0.8% 331.5 2.8% 28.1 0.2% 10.7 0.0% 25.8 0.0% Mixed Residential and Commercial 1.1 0.0% 1.4 0.0% 1.9 0.0% 0.3 0.0% 3.8 0.0% Undeveloped Space Open Space & Recreation 1,796.3 11.8% 1,327.7 11.4% 1,846.6 11.8% 15,020.0 44.2% 627.4 0.9% Vacant 830.1 5.4% 210.9 1.8% 977.1 6.2% 1,602.1 4.7% 1,649.6 2.2% Water 382.5 2.5% 4.4 0.0% 75.7 0.5% 96.5 0.3% 991.5 1.3% Undevelopable or Protected Land 315.5 2.1% 326.2 2.8% 129.6 0.8% 2,800.4 3.8% Specific Plan 887.3 7.6% Under Construction 12.5 0.0% Unknown 254.9 1.7% 4.7 0.0% 1,222.7 7.8% 371.0 1.1% 12,072.3 16.4% Total 15,251.8 11,660.3 15,668.5 33,990.1 73,551.4 Source: SCAG
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 10
2.1.4. Population and Employment In the corridor study area more than 115,000 residents, 41,000 households, and Existing population, household, and employment information was compiled for 69,000 jobs are within the City of Thousand Oaks. This portion of the study area each city from Transportation Analysis Zones (TAZs) within the study area. Over has the largest share of the corridor population. On average 2.8 people live in 420,000 people live within the study area, representing approximately half of the each household, which is close to the average for the study area. There are 1.67 population of the entire Ventura County. Nearly 90 percent of the population in the people for each job indicating the eastern‐edge of the corridor functions as an study area lives in the incorporated cities of Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, Ventura, and employment center, with many living outside of Thousand Oaks commuting to Camarillo. In the study area as a whole, 3.0 people on average live in each jobs within city limits. household, which is on par with the county as a whole, but varies throughout the study area. Within the study area the average household in the City of Ventura has In the corridor study area, 105,400 residents, nearly 27,000 households, and 2.6 people per household, while City of Oxnard has the highest people per house approximately 31,000 jobs are within the City of Oxnard. This portion of the ratio of 3.9. Study area population and household information is shown in Table 3. corridor has the highest persons per household ratio in the study area, at a rate of 3.9 people per housing unit. This may indicate that larger families or unrelated Table 3 – Existing Population, Household, and Employment Within the people live together in single households. In this portion of the corridor Study Area population to employment ratio is higher than the average for the study area. CITY OR COUNTY POPULATION HOUSEHOLDS PERSONS PER HOUSEHOLD Ventura 94,300 36,000 2.6 In the corridor study area approximately 94,300 residents, 36,000 households, Oxnard 105,400 26,800 3.9 and roughly 72,000 jobs are within the City of Ventura jurisdiction. In this area of Camarillo 61,300 23,000 2.7 the corridor the population/employment ratio is 1.31. With lower than average Thousand Oaks 115,300 41,400 2.8 population/employment ratios, the western‐edge of the corridor in the City of Unincorporated 45,300 14,700 3.1 Ventura functions as a regional employment center, with many people living Total Study Area 421,500 142,000 3.0 outside of the city, commuting to jobs within city limits. Source: SCAG
The economy of the study area employs nearly 200,000 people, representing In the corridor study area, 61,300 residents, more than 23,000 households, and approximately half of the jobs in the entire Ventura County. 90 percent of the roughly 9,000 jobs are in the City of Camarillo. In this central portion of the jobs are also located within incorporated cities. For the study area as a whole, the corridor, population to employment ratio is higher than average for the study population to employment ratio is 2.12. Population and employment information area. There are nearly two and a half households for every job available in this is shown in Table 4. area indicating many residents living in this portion of the community must travel outside of the city to reach their place of employment. Table 4 – Existing Population to Employment and Household to Employment Ratios Within the Study Area In the corridor, unincorporated Ventura County accounts for roughly 10 percent CITY OR COUNTY POPULATION HOUSEHOLDS EMPLOYMENT POP/EMPLOYMENT RATIO of the study area population, households, and jobs. These corridor areas outside Ventura 94,300 36,000 72,000 1.31 the four main jurisdictions have an average of 3.1 people per household and 2.62 Oxnard 105,400 26,800 30,900 3.41 people per job. Population and employment density in the study area is Camarillo 61,300 23,000 9,300 6.60 illustrated in Figure 7 and Figure 8. Thousand Oaks 115,300 41,400 69,00 1.67 Unincorporated 45,300 14,700 17,300 2.62 Total Study Area 421,457 141,938 198,500 2.12 Source: SCAG
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 11
Figure 7 – Existing Population Density Map by TAZ
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 12
Figure 8 – Existing Employment Density Map by TAZ
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 13
2.1.5. Disadvantaged Communities According to the California Energy Commission, disadvantaged communities are 2.2. Travel Market those most burdened by pollution from multiple sources and most vulnerable to its effects, taking into account socioeconomic characteristics and underlying The transportation system is mainly comprised of two components: Travel health status. A quarter of the proceeds from the State of California’s GHG Demand (trips) and Transportation Supply (infrastructure). As previously Reduction Fund go to projects that benefit disadvantaged communities. To discussed, Ventura County’s primary residential and jobs centers are determine which communities are disadvantaged, the Office of Environmental concentrated in four main jurisdictions (City of Ventura, City of Oxnard, City of Health Hazard Assessment analyzed 20 health and socioeconomic wellbeing Camarillo, and City of Thousand Oaks) along the US 101 Corridor. Over 420,000 indicators at the census tract level to develop the California Communities residents and nearly 200,000 workers travel in the study area to undertake a Environmental Health Screening Tool (“CalEnviroScreen”). Pursuant to Senate Bill variety of activities such as work, school, shopping, leisure, and goods movement. th 535, CalEPA designates disadvantaged communities as those at or above the 75 Within the study area, population is concentrated in the four cities and jobs are percentile as determined by CalEnviroScreen. concentrated in the cities of Ventura and Thousand Oaks.
As of the 2018 CalEnviroScreen 3.0 update, there are seven disadvantaged Residents and employees make over 1.9 million daily auto trips in the study area. communities with 31,900 people that fall completely or partially within the study This represents 50 percent of the trips in Ventura County. These 1.9 million trips area. As seen in Figure 9, these communities are concentrated west of Camarillo represent most travel in the study area as it is very auto‐centric. Data shows over in and around the cities of Ventura and Oxnard. Seven out of the eight 90 percent of commutes are by car. Highways and arterials in the corridor are the disadvantaged communities in Ventura County are in the corridor. most essential elements of the area’s transportation infrastructure, crisscrossing the study area connecting major activity centers. US 101 is the key route for Figure 9 – Disadvantaged Communities (2018) travel as much of the existing a new residential communities and commercial development is formed along the highway in the corridor area.
2.2.1. Commute Mode Choice Data shows 91 percent of commutes are by car in the study area. High auto use is often found in suburban and rural areas with low‐density land uses like the US 101 Corridor. Transit accounts for just 1 percent of daily commutes. Notably, when examining commutes by car, a sizable portion of commuters carpool. In the study area, 78 percent of workers drove alone and 13 percent carpooled. The share of commuters that carpool is higher in the study area compared to Ventura County as a whole (13 percent in the study area, compared to 10 percent in Ventura County). Carpooling is particularly popular in the City of Oxnard where one in five workers in the study area carpool to work.
Work at Home is the third most popular option in the corridor after Drive Alone and Carpool. Five percent of workers in the study area work at home. It is particularly popular in the City of Thousand Oaks where nearly 1 in 10 workers works from home. Figure 10 illustrates the average commute mode share in the study area. Table 5 shows commute mode share for the four main jurisdictions.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 14
illustrated in Figure 11 and tabulated in Table 6. Figure 10 – Average Mode Share in the Corridor Figure 11 – Journey-to-Work Travel Times (minutes) by City
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% City of Ventura
City of Camarillo
Study Area
California
l to 5 5 to 9 10 to 14 15 to 19 20 to 24 25 to 29 30 to 34 35 to 39 40 to 44 45 to 59 60 to 89 Greater than 90
Source: U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey (2018)
Table 6 – Journey-to-Work Travel Times (minutes) by City CITY <10 MINS. 10 TO 30 MINS 30‐60 MINS >60 MINS Ventura 14% 53% 24% 9% Oxnard 5% 65% 25% 5% Source: U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey (2018) Camarillo 19% 57% 21% 8%
Thousand Oaks 14% 53% 22% 12% Table 5 – Mode Share by City Study Area 10% 53% 23% 8% NON‐ WORK AT CITY DRIVE ALONE CARPOOL TRANSIT Ventura County 11% 54% 27% 9% MOTORIZED HOME California (State) 9% 47% 31% 13% Ventura 78% 11% 1.9% 3% 6% Source: U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey (2018) Oxnard 77% 17% 1.1% 2% 3% Camarillo 82% 10% 1.0% 2% 5% Commute time varies based on place of residence, place of employment, and Thousand Oaks 80% 8% 1.1% 2% 9% mode of travel. Across the four main jurisdictions, commute time distribution Source: U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey (2018) skewed towards shorter commutes. A majority of workers have commutes
under 30 minutes with the plurality of workers having commutes between 10 2.2.2. Commute Time and 30 minutes. Of the group of commuters with commutes under 30 minutes, Except for individuals who work at home, nearly a quarter‐million workers in workers who live in Oxnard tend to have slightly longer commutes with more the study area must find a way to travel to their jobs each workday. Their workers who have commutes between 25 and 29 minutes compared to the rest choice of transportation mode, departure time, trip origin and destination all of the study area. play key roles in determining door‐to‐door travel time. The collective result of these daily decisions is reflected in the commute times for the study area. The When it comes to long commutes, Thousand Oaks stands out for having the most majority (63 percent) of commute travel times within the study area are less commutes over one hour each way. Thousand Oaks residents who commute than 30 minutes. 11 percent commute less than 10 minutes, 58 percent outside the city travel south to Los Angeles County and drive north to Camarillo, commute 10 to 30 minutes, 23 percent commute 30 to 60 minutes, and 8 Oxnard, and Ventura to work. In addition to long drive distances, morning and percent commute over one hour. A summary of journey‐to‐work travel time is
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 15
evening congestion on highways in Thousand Oaks lengthens travel times.
2.2.3. Travel Patterns Table 8 – County-to-County Commuting Flows for Workers Living in Daily auto trips are examined to gain valuable insight into the daily activity Ventura County. patterns of travelers in the region. The majority (58 percent) of daily trips are WORKPLACE SHARE internal‐internal trips, meaning they both originate and end within the corridor Ventura County 78.5% study area. Daily internal‐internal trips typically represent trips to school, Los Angeles County 17.3% shopping, and leisure which are often proximate to home. They also represent Santa Barbara County 3.3% trips to/from work for workers who live and work within the study area. City‐ Other 0.9% Source: ACS 2012-2016 via CTPP (Census Transportation Planning Products) County to County Flows to‐city trip analysis shows for all cities, the majority of trips stay within the city. Note: This data includes all of Ventura County (including outside of the study area) The largest city‐to‐city flows are between Oxnard and Ventura. 24,000 trips originate in Oxnard and end in Ventura, and 23,000 trips originate in Ventura Table 9 – County-to-County Commuting Flows for Workers Working in and end in Oxnard each day. Daily flows by origin‐destination pairs are Ventura County summarized in Table 7. WORKPLACE SHARE Ventura County 87.5% Table 7 – Daily Flow / Travel Patterns Within Study Area Los Angeles County 10.8% ORIGIN/ THOUSAND OTHER Santa Barbara County 0.6% CAMARILLO OXNARD VENTURA DESTINATION OAKS DESTINATIONS Other 0.1% Source: ACS 2012-2016 via CTPP (Census Transportation Planning Products) County to County Flows Camarillo 54,000 9,000 7,000 13,000 47,761 Note: This data includes all of Ventura County (including outside of the study area) Oxnard 9,000 85,000 24,000 6,000 78,819 Ventura 7,000 23,000 235,000 2,000 74,300 Figure 12 – Existing Daily Auto Trips in and to/from the Corridor Thousand Oaks 13,000 6,000 2,000 214,000 131,490 Other Origins 48,000 77,000 75,000 135,000 38,620,000
In addition, approximately 18,000 daily through vehicle trips occur along the corridor (in other words, trips that pass through, but originate and end outside of, the corridor). The remaining trips travel to or originate from outside of the study area (internal‐external trips and external‐internal trips). Approximately 28 percent of study area trips stay within Ventura County, 12 percent travel to/from Los Angeles County and beyond, and 2 percent travel to/from Santa Barbara. Workers commuting from homes within the study area to job centers outside of the county account for most of the trips to/from Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties. Approximately 17 percent of workers living in Ventura County commute to Los Angeles County for work and 3 percent of workers living in Ventura County commute to Santa Barbara County for work. Housing costs in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties continue to rise, and some workers choose to live in Ventura County where housing is relatively more affordable. A small share of Ventura County workers live outside the County, including 10 percent who live in Los Angeles County. County‐to‐county commuting flows are tabulated Source: VCTM in Table 8 and Table 9. The generalized origin and destination of the auto trips are depicted in Figure 12.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 16
for about 2.5 hours from 7:00 AM to 9:30 AM. 2.3. Freeway As shown in Figure 15, in contrast, evening congestion patterns are consistently much heavier and are widespread throughout a larger In its current configuration, US 101 generally consists of three lanes in each portion of the corridor, especially mid‐corridor from Vineyard Avenue direction from SR 33 in the City of Ventura to Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks (SR 232) in Oxnard to Lewis Road (SR 34) in Camarillo. During the PM and four lanes from Moorpark Road to east of SR 23. US 101 has no high peak period, the stretch of freeway between the SR 23 and Ventu Park occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in the study area and limited areas with auxiliary Road is congested for about 3 hours from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The lanes, both of which are the subject of a major study by the Ventura County stretch of freeway between Camarillo Springs Road and Rice Avenue is Transportation Commission (VCTC) and Caltrans, known as Our Future 101. The congested for about 3 hours from 3:30 ‐6:30 PM. Congestion during the freeway carries a high of just over 200,000 daily trips in Thousand Oaks near SR PM peak period is especially notable in Thousand Oaks from the LA 23, approximately 150,000 daily trips in mid‐corridor in Camarillo, and a low of County line to Camarillo – with the exception of a short section between 75,000 daily trips west of SR 33 on the western end of the corridor. Peak hour Hampshire Road and SR 23. volumes in the corresponding segments range from 19,000 vehicles per hour It can be concluded that these congestion and duration disparities are (vph) in the east to 12,000 vph in the central portion of the corridor, and a low of due to the traffic composition and highly different patterns in the two about 6,000 vph on the western end of the corridor. peaks. While in the AM peak, with most of the commercial activity centers still closed, a majority of the traffic is commute and school With the diversity of the environment and origins‐destinations that US 101 related. In contrast, in the PM peak, the composition and volumes of connects, daily and peak hour traffic flows within the corridor yield unique traffic are much more varied and complex, and include shopping, operational and congestion patterns and issues from both geographical and time recreational and commercial trips combined with the regular school and of day standpoints. Unlike typical freeway corridors in Southern California which commute return traffic. This is rather intuitive since the US 101 Corridor generally experience symmetric traffic flow patterns during the day – with serves as an access facility for the majority of the county’s concentration bottlenecks and congestion in opposite directions in the AM and PM peak of commercial land uses, especially in the central portions of the periods, the US 101 Corridor has asymmetric daily traffic patterns. corridor in Camarillo. Investigating the above phenomena more closely with Caltrans traffic Figure 13 and Figure 15, depict typical morning and afternoon congestion and speed data, Figure 17 shows the locations of recurring, persistent patterns along the study corridor. The line graph identifies locations and hours of traffic “bottlenecks” along the project corridor. Bottlenecks in this congestions when speed drops below 45 miles per hour. The heat map displays a context are defined as locations where significant speed degradation congestion scan for the corridor’s freeway lanes. A congestion scan is a two‐ occurs in more that 20 percent of the days throughout the year. dimensional contour plot, showing the average weekday traffic speeds with time Therefore, additional bottlenecks may occur within the study area that of day on the vertical axis and post‐mile along the study corridor on the do not meet the formal definition and are not shown. Arrows horizontal axis. Figure 14 and Figure 16 illustrate Level‐of‐Service (LOS) based on correspond to the morning, mid‐day and evening period bottleneck demand over capacity. patterns by direction and proportional in magnitude, as listed in the
accompanying table. As shown in Figure 13, typical morning congestion patterns along the This data also corroborates the previous observations, confirming that study corridor are considerably lighter than the evening and are the evening and mid‐day congestion patterns are much more concentrated eastbound in the eastern portion of the corridor pronounced than the morning, with some segments from Lynn Road to approaching SR 23 and towards the Los Angeles County line. During the Wendy Drive exhibiting recurring delay patterns that consistently occur AM peak period, in addition to congestion around SR 23, the stretch of between 35 to 47 percent of the days during the year, with significant freeway between the Vineyard Avenue (SR 232) and Rice Avenue is average delays (as high as 200 vehicle hours), lasting for 60 to 90 congested for about 2 hours from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM, and the stretch minutes in the afternoon periods. of freeway between Camarillo Springs Road and Lynn Road is congested
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 17
Figure 13 – Typical Southbound US 101 AM Congestion Patterns and Hours of Delay (Speed <45 mph)
Source: PeMS, Iteris
Figure 14 – AM Peak Period LOS (Demand/Capacity)
Source: VCTM
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 18
Figure 15 – Typical Northbound US 101 PM Congestion Patterns and
Hours of Delay (Speed <45 mph) Source: PeMS, Iteris
Figure 16 – PM Peak Period LOS (Demand/Capacity)
Source: VCTM
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 19
Figure 17 – Recurring "Bottleneck" Locations
Source: Caltrans PeMS, Iteris
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 20
VCTC and Caltrans are engaged in a multi‐year Project Approval and Figure 19. A majority of the CMP roadways have LOS D or better with an average Environmental Documentation (PA&ED) effort to improve US 101, generally from PM peak period speed of approximately 35 MPH within the study area. the SR 33 in the City of Ventura to SR 23 in Thousand Oaks. The PA&ED investigates infrastructure improvements alternatives including high occupancy Figure 19 – CMP Network Level of Service (LOS) vehicle (HOV)/express bus lanes and other related enhancements within the corridor, such as interchange improvements and auxiliary lanes.
2.4. Arterial/Local Streets
Local streets and roads are critical components of the Ventura County transportation system. Roads provide important connections within and between local communities, and from the highway system to local streets. Automobiles, buses, bicycles, and pedestrians all use the local streets and roads. The arterials identified in the 2009 Ventura County Congestion Management Plan (CMP) are exhibited in Figure 18. The intent of the CMP is to more efficiently link land use and transportation, thereby prompting reasonable growth management programs that will effectively utilize transportation funds, alleviate traffic congestion and related impacts, and improve air quality.
Figure 18 – CMP Network Capacity
2.4.1. Arterials with Highest Daily Volumes The arterials analyzed below have the highest daily traffic volumes as measured by average daily traffic (ADT). ADT is a measure used in transportation planning and engineering to describe the total volume of vehicle traffic on a highway or road for a typical day. AM Peak hour and PM Peak hour traffic volumes for these arterials are also shown below. These hourly volumes represent the morning and evening hours with the highest volume of travel. Arterials with heavy commuter traffic will have high AM Peak and PM Peak hourly traffic volumes.
Victoria Avenue (City of Ventura and City of Oxnard) 2018 CMP ADT Counts (south of Olivas Park Drive) – ADT: 44,900; AM Peak: 3,430; PM Peak: 3,850 Victoria Avenue is a north‐south arterial on the west‐side of the study area. The arterial runs through the City of Ventura and along the western edge of the City of Oxnard. The arterial connects the City of Ventura and US 101 to communities on
the west‐side of the City of Oxnard. North of US 101 in the City of Ventura, the The study area includes approximately 260 lane miles of arterials including state road is lined by local shopping centers, grocery stores, residential communities, highways, with more than half (57 percent) being 4‐lane roads, as shown in Figure Ventura County government offices, and Buena High School. South of US 101 in 16. Level of Service (LOS), or the demand over roadway capacity, is presented in the City of Oxnard, the arterial passes through agriculture and open space,
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 21
residential neighborhoods, local shopping centers, grocery stores, Channel Island Harbor Boulevard is a north‐south arterial on the western edge of the study area. marina, and Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Port Hueneme. Harbor Boulevard intersects US 101 corridor in the City of Ventura and links the corridor with the west‐side of the City of Oxnard and continues south to the City of Victoria Avenue from NBVC Port Hueneme (south of Channel Islands Boulevard) to Port Hueneme. The arterial runs along the coast and is adjacent to Ventura US 101 is designated by the United States Department of Defense as a Strategic Harbor, Mandalay power plant, Mandalay State Beach, Oxnard Dunes, Oxnard Highway Network Connector, which serves as an important military mobilization Shores, and Channel Island Marina. Traffic on the arterial has increased nearly 3 corridor. Las Posas Road from Pointe Mugu Naval Complex and US 101 also have percent year‐over‐year. this designation. Additional planning and funding considerations are outlined in the Defense Access Roads program, Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Joint Land Moorpark Road (City of Thousand Oaks) Use Study (2015), and United States Army Military Surface Deployment & 2018 CMP ADT Counts (north of Santa Rosa Road) – ADT: 20,700; AM Peak: Distribution Command (SDDC) STRAHNET program. 2,490; PM Peak: 1,780 Moorpark Road is a north‐south arterial on the east‐side of the study area. The Rice Avenue (SR 1) (City of Oxnard) road serves as one of the primary north‐south routes in the City of Thousand Oaks 2018 CMP ADT Counts (south of 5th Street/SR 34) – ADT: 36,700; AM Peak: 2,500; that runs parallel to SR 23. Moorpark Road connects US 101 to many primarily PM Peak: 2,700 single‐family residential neighborhoods on the north‐east side of the community. Rice Avenue is a north‐south arterial on the west‐side of the study area. The The arterial is flanked by many activity centers including local shopping centers, arterial runs south from US 101 through the eastern edge of the City of Oxnard. grocery stores, Thousand Oaks High School, Thousand Oaks Community Center Rice Avenue connects US 101 to the east‐side of the City of Oxnard and continues and Community Park, Kaiser Permanente Thousand Oaks Medical Offices (off further south connecting to US 1 towards Point Mugu and Malibu. Along the Hillcrest Drive), Janss Marketplace shopping mall (open‐air mall with box‐box corridor is a concentration of industrial and commercial businesses north of 5th stores and casual eateries), and open space recreation areas south of US 101 Street and agricultural land uses south of 5th Street. Traffic on the arterial grew 3 (Hope Nature Preserve, Los Robles Open Space, and Conejo Ridge Open Space). percent between 2017 and 2018. The City of Oxnard plans for significant near‐ Traffic on the arterial increased nearly 5 percent between 2017 and 2018. term light industrial and commercial development between Rice Avenue and Del Norte Avenue, south of US 101, continuing beyond Gonzales Boulevard, known as Ventura County faces challenges to maintain existing roadways. The 2013 the Sakioka Farms Specific Plan. Comprehensive Transportation Plan estimated a $438 million funding shortfall to maintain existing roads, streets and arterials over the next 10 years. In 30 years, Santa Rosa Road (City of Camarillo) the projected need will reach $2.4 billion, but only $1.1 billion is available, leaving 2018 CMP ADT Counts (west of Moorpark Road) – ADT: 22,100; AM Peak: 2,130; a $1.3 billion shortfall. Funding for the maintenance and rehabilitation of local PM Peak: 2,240 roads continue to be insufficient, despite the recent implementation of SB 1 in Santa Rosa Road is an east‐west arterial on the north‐side of the study area. The 2017 to increase investment in transportation through a statewide gas tax. Other arterial runs from the east‐side of the City of Camarillo to the northern edge of the approaches and revenue sources – possibly at the local level – are needed to City of Thousand Oaks through Santa Rosa Valley. The road intersects US 101 in the address the shortfall. City of Camarillo. Santa Rosa Road connects the City of Camarillo to the north‐side to the City of Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, and Simi Valley. The arterial is lined by 2.5. Transit and Active Transportation primarily single‐family residential development and agricultural land uses. Traffic on Santa Rosa Road increased 2 percent in 2018 compared to the previous year. Although most trips in the corridor are made by automobiles, the study area does have a considerable transit and active transportation system. Transit and the Harbor Boulevard (City of Ventura and City of Oxnard) active transportation network are vital for providing alternative low‐cost mobility 2018 CMP ADT Counts (north of Gonzales Road) – ADT: 21,700; AM Peak: 1,850; options in the corridor – particularly for the population with limited or no access PM Peak: 2,180 to a car.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 22
2.5.1. Transit and Rail Figure 20 – Fixed-Route Transit Service Ventura County is served by thirteen separate service operators providing fixed route services and demand responsive service (Dial‐A‐Ride). In addition, Metrolink and Amtrak operate daily commuter rail service within Ventura County, the Los Angeles region, and to Santa Barbara County. The key operators within the US 101 Corridor area are: Metrolink, Amtrak, Gold Coast Transit District, Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC Intercity), Camarillo Area Transit, and Thousand Oaks Transit.
The majority of transit and rail service in Ventura County occurs within the study area. Three out of four of the Metrolink and Amtrak stations in the County are located within the study area. The entire Camarillo Area Transit fixed route service travels within the study area. All of Thousand Oaks Transit’s fixed routes are within the study area, with the exception of one bus stop on Route 2/2B. Sixty‐two (62) percent of Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD) bus stops are within the study area. Nearly all GCTD routes in Ventura are within the study, and about half in Oxnard are within the study area. All VCTC Intercity routes intersect the study area. VCTC Intercity Hwy 101/Conejo Routes 50‐55 travel along the US 101 Corridor.
Fixed Route Transit Table 11 presents a summary of annual ridership served by each service provider. Of Gold Coast Transit District operates 17 fixed bus routes, serving the communities the service providers, Gold Coast Transit District has the highest number of annual of Oxnard, Ventura, Port Hueneme, and Ojai. VCTC operates an intercity bus boardings at 3.6 million, more than twice as many boardings as all other service network, primarily within Ventura County, extending into Santa Barbara and Los providers combined. As shown, ridership productivity is highest amongst transit Angeles Counties. The VCTC Intercity bus runs eight routes to Oxnard, Ventura, providers with robust systems and/or bi‐directional routes. Figure 21 illustrates Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Piru, typical weekday boardings and alightings of bus stops in the study area, and Table Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, and Goleta. Thousand Oaks Transit operates five 12 highlights the bus stops with the most boardings and alightings. routes, while Camarillo Transit operates two. A summary of number of routes, peak vehicles, and communities served by each service provider is included in Table 11 – Fixed Route Annual Ridership FY 2017 Table 10. Figure 20 shows a map of all fixed‐route services in the County. OPERATIONAL VCTC THOUSAND GOLD COAST CAMARILLO CHARACTERISTICS INTERCITY OAKS Table 10 – Service Provider Summary Boardings 3,616,400 795,800 156,500 82,500 PEAK BUS Total Revenue Miles 2,192,000 1,781,000 372,000 54,300 SERVICE PROVIDER ROUTES COMMUNITIES SERVED VEHICLES STOPS Total Revenue Hours 203,500 70,300 24,900 5,400 Gold Coast Transit Oxnard, Ventura, Port Hueneme, Operating Cost 18,924,500 $8,585,000 $2,403,500 $369,800 17 47 683 District Ojai Operating Speed (mph) 10.8 25.3 14.9 10.0 Oxnard, Ventura, Camarillo, Passengers per Rev Hr 17.8 11.3 6.3 15.3 Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Simi Cost per Passenger $5.23 $10.79 $15.36 $4.48 VCTC Intercity 8 35 96 Valley, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Piru, Peak Vehicles 47 35 10 2 Carpentaria, Santa Barbara, Goleta Source: 2017 NTD Thousand Oaks Transit 5 10 116 Thousand Oaks, Moorpark Camarillo Area Transit 2 2 14 Camarillo Source: 2017 NTD
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 23
Figure 21 – Fixed-Route Transit Service Bus Stop Typical Weekday Table 13 – On-Demand Annual Ridership FF 2017 Boardings and Alightings OPERATIONAL VCTC THOUSAND GOLD COAST CAMARILLO CHARACTERISTICS INTERCITY OAKS Boardings 102,400 25,300 83,900 96,900 Total Revenue Miles 735,000 173,800 632,500 272,500 Total Revenue Hours 49,200 11,200 37,700 26,300 Operating Cost 3,028,900 $740,300 $2,929,000 $1,541,000 Operating Speed (mph) 14.9 15.5 16.8 10.3 Passengers per Rev Hr 2.1 2.3 2.2 3.7 Cost per Passenger $29.57 $29.30 $34.93 $15.89 Peak Vehicles 23 10 18 14 Source: 2017 NTD
Passenger Rail Metrolink is Southern California’s commuter rail operator in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. The Ventura County Line serves three stations within the study area including East Ventura, Oxnard, and Camarillo. From these stations, 3 trains operate weekdays to Los Angeles (Union Station), with return trips in the afternoon and evening. Daily weekday ridership on the Ventura
County Line averages 3,700 boardings (Metrolink, 2018). The railroad right‐of‐way Table 12 – Bus Stops with Most Daily Boardings and Alightings used for passenger travel in the study area is owned by Union Pacific Railroad, which RANK BUS STOP OPERATOR BOARDINGS ALIGHTINGS TOTAL operates freight trains on those same tracks. Amtrak operates commuter rail 1 Oxnard Transit Center Gold Coast 1,150 1,040 2,190 between San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, and San Diego on its Pacific Surfliner line, 2 Ventura Transit Center Gold Coast 1,000 960 1,970 with stations in Ventura, East Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo in the Corridor study 3 Camarillo Metrolink Station VCTC Intercity 280 290 570 area. The Pacific Surfliner line operates six northbound trains and six southbound 4 C Street Transfer Center #1 Gold Coast 220 340 560 trains daily. Figure 22 provides a map of commuter rail system in the study area. 5 4th and B Street #1 Gold Coast 500 20 520 6 4th and B Street #2 Gold Coast 20 490 510 Figure 22 – Metrolink and Amtrak Services 7 Pacific View Mall VCTC Intercity 230 210 440 Source: 2018 Gold Coast, VCTC Intercity, Thousand Oaks
Demand Response Transit Demand‐Response Transit (DRT) or Dial‐A‐Ride (DAR) is a non‐fixed route, flexible transit service providing curb‐to‐curb or door‐to‐door pickups and drop‐offs of passengers in response to calls from passengers to the transit operator, who then dispatches a vehicle to pick up the passengers and transport them to their destinations. Table 13 provides a summary of DRT annual ridership served by each transit provider.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 24
Ridership Trends Table 14 – Park & Ride Facilities Levels of transit service and ridership in the study area have decreased, a trend FACILITY LOCATION CITY SPACES experienced by much of the public transit industry. Speculations about the cause 6175 Ventura Blvd (Metrolink Only) Ventura 55 of the decline includes, but is not limited to, the rise of transportation network Lockwood & Factory Outlet Center Oxnard 72 companies such as Lyft and Uber, and improvements in the general economy 2621 E. Ventura Blvd Oxnard 20 and wages that makes it possible for more people to own and operate their own 201 E. Fourth St. (Metrolink Only) Oxnard 75 690 Ventura Blvd Camarillo 122 vehicles. A 2018 SCAG study entitled Falling Transit Ridership: California and 30 N Lewis Rd (Metrolink Only) Camarillo 220 Southern California, attributes the decline in transit ridership primarily to US 101 and Santa Rosa Rd Camarillo 141 increased motor vehicle access, particularly among low‐income households that 475 Rancho Conejo Blvd Thousand Oaks 183 have traditionally served as the region’s most frequent and reliable transit users. Rancho Rd & SR 23 & US 101 Thousand Oaks 183 Studies also note that decreased ridership reduces funds available for transit SR 23 & Janss Rd Thousand Oaks n/a service. Total 1,071 Source: VCTC; go511.com Park and Ride Ten Park & Ride facilities provide over 1,000 free parking spots in the study 2.5.2. Active Transportation area, as illustrated in Figure 23. Eight out of 10 of the facilities are along the Active and low‐speed transportation are an important part of the Ventura US 101 Corridor. Each Metrolink rail station has a Park & Ride facility for County multi‐modal transportation system. For purposes of this study, low‐ Metrolink riders only. Table 14 includes a summary of all Park & Ride facilities. speed transportation is defined as alternative travel modes that operate at lower speeds than conventional automobiles and focus on non‐polluting means Figure 23 – Park and Ride of propulsion, including walking, cycling, scooters, and neighborhood electric vehicles. Active transportation is also key to supporting transit riders, as many transit trips start and/or end on foot. As stated in the 2016 SCAG RTP/SCS, Ventura County has some active transportation connections between local jurisdictions (such as Ventura to Ojai), but lacks regional bike routes and signage. For example, bicycle connectivity between Thousand Oaks and Camarillo is limited. VCTC completed its Bicycle Wayfinding Plan in 2016 to improve the convenience and safety of people traveling by bike in Ventura County. Funding to complete implementation of the Plan is limited.
The State of California recognizes four types of bikeway facilities– Class I, Class II, Class III, and Class IV facilities. Class I facilities are multi‐use paths, often referred to as bicycle paths physically separated from motor vehicle routes. They are intended to accommodate multiple user groups, including cyclists, pedestrians, and, in some cases, Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs). NEVs are battery electric vehicles typically built to have a top speed of 25 miles per hour and weigh less than 3,000 pounds. NEVs are typically quadricycles. Class II facilities are referred to as bicycle lanes and provide exclusive space for cyclists on roadways. Class III facilities are bicycle routes designated by signage and painted “sharrows” in vehicle lanes. Class IV facilities are separated bikeways or “bicycle boulevards,” which are physically separated from motor traffic with a vertical feature, such as a curb. Figure 24 shows the existing bikeway facilities in Ventura County. Table 15 depicts the miles of existing bikeways in Ventura County.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 25
Figure 24 – Bikeway Facilities Figure 25 – Workers Commute by Bicycle
Source: 2017 American Community Survey (5-year) Table 15 – Miles of Existing Bikeways (2012) 1.8 percent of commuters living in the study area walk to work, or around 3,800 BICYCLE FACILITY TYPE STUDY AREA VENTURA COUNTY Class I 33 80 workers. The 3,800 workers who walk to work in the study area represent 54 Class II 217 361 percent of all Ventura County walk commuters. Workers who commute by walking Class III 48 70 are concentrated in Ventura, Camarillo, and Thousand Oaks. In Ventura, a higher Class IV 1 1 number of commuters who walk to work live in neighborhoods south of SR 126. In Total 299 512 Camarillo, commuters who walk are concentrated in neighborhoods proximate to Source: SCAG’s RTPSCS, Active Transportation, 2016 commercial centers north of US 101. In Thousand Oaks, walking commuters live in VCTC Existing Bike Lane Inventory 2018 by City by Class – Centerline Miles near commercial development along Rancho Conejo Boulevard. Commuters who walk to work also live in agricultural areas in unincorporated County areas. Figure Location of Non‐Motorized Commutes 26 illustrates the aggregate share of workers who commute by walking by census Only 0.7 percent of commuters living in the study area bike to work, or around tract in the study area. 1,500 workers. The 1,500 workers who bike to work within the study area represent 65 percent of all Ventura County bike commuters. Workers who commute by bicycle are concentrated in Ventura, Oxnard, and Camarillo. A higher concentration of bicycle commuters is located in Ventura communities south of US 101 along the coast and along Telegraph Road. In Oxnard, communities with a high number of bicycle commuters are concentrated along Oxnard Boulevard and near St. John’s Regional Medical Center. In Camarillo, bicycle commuters primarily live in communities east of SR 34. Figure 25 illustrates the aggregate share of workers who commute by bike by census tract in the study area.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 26
warning signs in areas of limited visibility or auxiliary lanes and other supportive Figure 26 – Workers Commute by Walking facilities where breakdowns occur. To analyze the safety within the study area, vehicle collision data was collected for the three‐year period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. The collision data was obtained from the UC Berkeley Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) website and modified to standardize primary and secondary street names and add geographic coordinates where missing. TIMS data comes from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS).
Comparing the study area to the countywide collision data, the frequency and type of collisions are consistent countywide and within the study area encompassing the urbanized core of the county as shown in Tables 16 and Table 17. Approximately half of the vehicle collisions in Ventura County occur in the US 101 Corridor, with ten percent on US 101 itself. US 101 has the majority of the pedestrian, bicycle and truck involved collisions, but a minority of motorcycle collisions. While the number of overall injury collisions is higher in the study area as compared to the county as a whole, the severity of those injuries is relatively lower—due to lower speeds in the urbanized areas. Additional information regarding traffic safety in the study area, including accident analysis of Caltrans Source: 2017 American Community Survey (5-year) Traffic Accident Surveillance and Analysis System (TASAS) data and City records, As discussed in the Travel Markets and Patterns section, a very small proportion will be available in the upcoming US 101 HOV PA&ED report.
of corridor commuters use transit and active transportation. Despite the wide‐ Table 16 – Type of Collision range of transit and active transportation facilities discussed above, auto is by STUDY AREA AS PERCENT far the most preferred means of travel. Travelers will consider riding transit (or INVOLVED WITH TOTAL IN COUNTY STUDY AREA TOTAL OF COUNTY TOTAL non‐motorized modes) when they believe the mode has the lowest relative All Collisions 12,106 6,904 57% costs as measured by money, time, and uncertainty. If transit is cheaper, faster, Pedestrian 689 381 55% and more reliable than driving, travelers are more likely to choose transit over Bicycle 770 415 54% driving to get to their destinations. To make non‐auto modes more attractive, Motorcycle 746 360 48% future improvement projects can target transit service enhancements and Truck 344 176 51% multimodal infrastructure improvements – both within and between jurisdictions. Though driving will remain a necessary choice for some people, Table 17 – Injury Collisions improving and increasing the use of transit and active travel will result in STUDY AREA AS TYPE OF INJURY COUNTY STUDY AREA decreased auto congestion, better transit performance, and enhanced multi‐ PERCENT OF COUNTY modal networks in the corridor. Fatal 162 68 42% Severe Injuries 819 368 45% 2.6. Safety Visible Injuries 4,555 2,581 57% Complaint of Pain 11,611 6,748 58% Total Injuries 17,147 9,765 57% No transportation facility is designed to be unsafe, however, areas with high incidents of recurring collisions may need additional safety‐focused countermeasures to address specific issues. These may include additional
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 27
2.6.1. Study Area Collisions Figure 27 – US 101 Collisions Overall, there were 6,904 collisions resulting in 9,765 injuries and 68 deaths in the study area from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018 according to the TIMS data, as shown in Table 18. Approximately 20 percent or 1,400 collisions were on the US 101 mainline, and 28 percent of collisions were located on or adjacent to study area state highways (inclusive of US 101). Pedestrian and bicycle involved collisions accounted for approximately six percent of total collisions each. 20 percent of pedestrian/vehicle incidents resulted in fatalities, and nearly every pedestrian and bicycle involved collision resulted in an injury due to the vulnerability of persons traveling by walking or biking as compared to vehicles.
Table 18 – Collision Types and Injuries STUDY AREA INJURIES AND NUMBER PERCENT PERCENT COLLISIONS FATALITIES Total Collisions 6,904 100% 9,765 100% Pedestrian Collisions 431 6.2% 417 4.3% Bicycle Collisions 452 6.5% 420 4.3% US 101 Mainline 1,400 20.3% 1,944 19.9% All State Highways 1,933 28.0% 2,696 27.6%
2.6.2. US 101 Freeway The vast majority of collisions along the US 101 freeway are rear‐end collisions (63 2.6.3. Corridor Arterials percent of total) caused by unsafe speed (65.5 percent of total and 92 percent of As illustrated in Figure 28, corridor arterials with US 101 interchanges with high rear‐end collisions). Rear‐end collisions are caused by following too closely to react share of collisions within the study area are (from north to south): to periodic slow‐downs in the flow of the freeway and are generally focused around areas of changing topography, visibility, and vehicle weaving conditions. Main Street, Telephone Road, and Victoria Avenue in Ventura The other most common type of collisions are hit object collisions (18 percent) and E. Vineyard Avenue (SR 232) and Rose Avenue south of US 101 in Oxnard sideswipe collisions (9 percent). Top collision hot spots along the mainline of US Las Posas Road, Carmen Drive, Arneill Road, and Pleasant Valley Road in 101 (from north to south) are near Victoria Avenue in Ventura; Rose Avenue in Camarillo Oxnard; Camarillo Springs Road in Camarillo, Wendy Drive, Ventu Park Road, Lynn Rancho Conejo Boulevard, Ventu Park, Lynn Road, Moorpark Road and Road, and Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. Figure 27 illustrates the accident Westlake Boulevard in Thousand Oaks locations on US 101 including ramps in the study area. Parallel arterial corridors with a high number of collisions are: Overall, 389 collisions occurred on state highway ramps in the study area with another 229 occurring within 250 feet of a ramp, but not on the state highway Main Street in Ventura itself. Thousand Oaks had the highest concentration of collisions on ramps. Gonzales Road in Oxnard Locations with the highest number of ramp collision locations serving US 101 are Central Avenue and SR 118 in the unincorporated area between Oxnard Victoria Avenue in Ventura; Oxnard Boulevard and Rose Avenue in Oxnard; and and Camarillo Moorpark Road, Hampshire Road, Ventu Park Road, Hillcrest Drive, and Lynn Las Posas Road north of Earl Joseph Avenue and 5th Street/Lewis Road Road in Thousand Oaks. (SR 34) in Camarillo Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 28
Figure 28 – Arterial Collisions Figure 29 – Pedestrian Collisions
2.6.4. Pedestrian and Bike Collision Locations Figure 30 – Bike Collisions The pedestrian and bike collisions are illustrated in Figures 29 and 30. The top study area locations for pedestrian involved collisions are Gonzales Road at Rose Avenue in Oxnard and 5th Street at Ventura Road in Oxnard and Telephone Road at US 101 and Victoria Avenue at SR 126 in Ventura. TA number of bicycle‐involved collision hot spots are concentrated around US 101 interchange and ramp‐area locations such as:
Along Main Street in Ventura (especially near the US 101 and SR 33 interchange and US 101 and SR 126 interchange. Along Thousand Oaks Boulevard near the US 101 and SR 23 interchange.
Specific locations of concentrated bicycle‐involved collisions are Potrero Road at Via Acosta in Thousand Oaks, Thille Street at Victoria Avenue in Ventura, Oxnard Boulevard and Gonzales Road in Oxnard, and Main Street at Mills Road in Ventura.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 29
attractive. There were 6,904 collisions resulting in 9,765 injuries and 68 deaths on roadways in the study area from 2016 to 2018. Enhancing the safety of the existing roads for all users remains a key priority.
2.7. Existing Challenges
The Existing Conditions analysis highlights the overall state of the US 101 Corridor today. The US 101 freeway has been the backbone for Ventura County and has supported much of the area’s population and economic growth. However, as travel demands have grown, the existing transportation network has shown some deficiencies. Key findings from the analysis include:
As the corridor has grown and continued to rely primarily on auto travel, freeways and arterials have exceeded capacity and become more congested – particularly during peak commute hours. The most significant freeway congestion is on the eastern portion of US 101 in the cities of Camarillo and Thousand Oaks. A significant portion of study area commuters living in Camarillo travel to Thousand Oaks for work. A significant portion of study area commuters living in Oxnard travel to Ventura for work. Transit and active transportation modes present a very small share of trips in the corridor. The corridor has a variety of transit services and active transportation facilities, but additional service enhancements and network improvements are needed to make these modes more
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 30
3 FUTURE CONDITIONS
Following the Existing Conditions assessment, the next step of the US 101 Communities Connected planning process is to identify future mobility deficiencies and gaps in the transportation infrastructure by analyzing future multimodal travel demand in the study area. This Future Conditions Report identifies transportation issues that the study area is expected to face over the next 20 years.
Analysis of the Ventura County Traffic Model (VCTM) helps to understand future land use, demographics, infrastructure improvements, and expected travel demand on the transportation system in 2040. Projected 2040 land use and demographic conditions are based on county, regional, and local transportation and land use plans, population forecasts from the SCAG 2016 RTP and VCTM. Transportation system conditions in 2040 are based on planned improvements to the existing system (transportation projects with funding commitments) that are included in existing planning documents (Capital Improvement Plans, Short‐Range Transit Plans, Transportation Improvement Programs, and the Regional Transportation Plan).
Overall, the projected multimodal travel demand is expected to be similar to Existing Conditions given generally modest population and employment growth. Existing land use ordinances that protect agricultural and open space land, and limit growth outside of existing urban boundaries, are also expected to contribute to the modest growth forecast. Even modest population and employment growth will impact the transportation network through increased travel demand, which is expected to push travel volumes on the existing and planned network to its full capacity. As traffic congestion is a non‐linear phenomenon, modest growth in traffic can lead to significant increase in congestions and delays for vehicular travel – which will continue to represent the vast majority of travel in the region – roadways that previously met or exceeded capacity during peak travel periods will see worsened traffic congestion and increased overall travel times. However, increased congestion coupled with intensified land uses will produce opportunities for carpooling, transit, and non‐motorized travel modes in the corridor, which are able to support higher person throughput than single occupancy vehicle travel. Transportation demand management programs that encourage and incentivize telework can also reduce demand on the roadways.
3.1. Land Use Demographics
3.1.1. Potential Areas of Future Land Use Intensification Current zoning in the study area allows for potential higher intensity development in key areas. These areas are typically located adjacent to the current highest intensities of existing development in the corridor (which occurs primarily within corridor cities).
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 31
Figure 30 and Figure 31 highlight areas where current zoning allows for future Figure 30 – Potential Areas of Land Use Intensification, West development that exceeds intensities of the current land use. As seen in the figures, these areas are directly adjacent to US 101 and proximate to the two areas of concentrated development perpendicular to the freeway in Oxnard and Ventura. Areas within the SOAR boundary, which includes most of the unincorporated areas, are not permitted to intensify without rezoning and voter approval. The following is a city by city summary of areas with potential for future development.
In Ventura, additional commercial and residential development is largely focused in the historic downtown core between Highway 33 and Hemlock Street. The greatest concentrations are centralized in the blocks surrounding Main Street and California Street. Flanking the commercial corridor of Ventura Avenue, additional multi‐family housing is an allowable use with over 600 unbuilt units permitted. In the eastern portion of the City, zoning allows for additional commercial and industrial development.
In Oxnard, potential areas of land use development are concentrated in the
historic downtown and civic center, which are both zoned for a mix of uses. To Data Source: SCAG the west and north of this core are areas where additional multi‐family housing is allowable. There are opportunities to link this land use with the Oxnard Figure 31 – Potential Areas of Land Use Intensification, East Boulevard corridor and the multi‐agency transit station that lies within the central business district. Potential future development areas are located in the eastern portion of the city south of US 101 where business park uses, and light industrial areas are permitted by a number of specific plans.
Two potential areas in Camarillo, near US 101, may intensify based on current zoning. In the western portion of the City, north of Camarillo Airport, zoning allows for commercial and industrial development where the land is currently vacant. However, this area is subject to the Airport Comprehensive Land Use Plan for Ventura County. In the vicinity of Camarillo’s central core, zoning permits commercial and multifamily development. Much of this area is already built out at a low scale. Areas where additional housing or mixed‐use development may occur includes Ponderosa Center, a low‐rise shopping center.
Limited opportunities for growth exist in Thousand Oaks as many of the areas where commercial and multi‐family development is allowable have been mostly built out. Opportunities are concentrated on Thousand Oaks Boulevard where the additional development of mixed‐use, residential, commercial, and office Data Source: SCAG uses are authorized through the Thousand Oaks Boulevard Specific Plan.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 32
3.1.2. Efficient Land Use Indicators Table 19 – Existing and Future Population and Households A number of land use policy initiatives can be used by the local jurisdictions to EXISTING (2018) FUTURE (2040) incentivize development, distribution, and density of uses that enhance access to and utilization of transit; promote walkability and bicycle use; and reduce single CITY OR occupancy vehicle trip generation, VMT, and GHG emissions. These solutions, COUNTY some of which are adopted from the Congested Corridor Program by the PEOPLE PER HOUSEHOLD (CHANGE) California Transportation Commission (CTC), include: POPULATION HOUSEHOLDS PEOPLE PER HOUSEHOLD POPULATION (CHANGE) HOUSEHOLDS (CHANGE) 110,344 41,886 2.6 Ventura 94,317 36,033 2.6 Implementation of a by‐right (nondiscretionary) approval process, (17%) (16%) (0%) 131,211 36,331 3.7 adopted or in development, for multifamily residential and mixed‐use Oxnard 105,359 26,795 3.9 development (25%) (36%) (‐4%) 77,967 29,484 2.6 Streamlined plan‐level environmental analysis for multifamily residential Camarillo 61,284 23,020 2.7 (27%) (28%) (‐2%) and/or mixed‐use development within or adjacent to specific plan areas 125,882 44,500 2.8 Thousand Oaks 115,240 41,431 2.8 Implementation of a density bonus ordinance, adopted or in (9%) (7%) (0%) development, whose allowable density increase exceeds the 53,850 17,275 3.1 Unincorporated 45,257 14,659 3.1 requirements of State Density Bonus Law (19%) (18%) (0%) Implementation of an ordinance or other policy, adopted or in 499,254 169,476 2.9 Total 421,457 141,938 3.0 development, allowing reduced parking requirements for all sites zoned (19%) (19%) (‐1%) for multifamily residential or mixed‐use development. Data Source: VCTM Streamlining of CEQA Transportation Assessment for in‐fill development Figure 32 – Future Population Density projects
3.1.3. Population and Employment Existing and forecasted population, household, and employment information was compiled for the study area from VCTM socioeconomic data. Table 19 illustrates the forecasted population, household and employment information for each city and unincorporated area of Ventura County in the study area, with comparisons to the existing context in parentheses. Overall, the population and number of households in the study area are expected to increase by 19 percent to 499,254 persons and 169,476 households over the next 20 years. Over the same period, the average household size throughout the study area is expected to decrease from 3.0 people per household to 2.9 people per household. This means housing unit development will increase at a greater rate than population due to the aging population and smaller overall household size. Future population density is mapped in Figure 32.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 33
The number of jobs in the study area are expected to increase at more than Figure 33 – Future Employment Density double the rate of population growth (45 percent) to 288,570 jobs. The overall population to employment ratio is expected to decrease by from 2.12 to 1.73 between today and 2040, indicating the potential for decreased trips from residents to jobs outside of the study area and/or increased trips by residents to jobs within the study area from elsewhere, leading to overall better jobs/housing balance. Population, household, and employment information is shown in Table 20. Future employment density is mapped in Figure 33.
Table 20 – Existing and Employment and Employment Ratios EXISTING (2018( FUTURE (2040)
CITY OR COUNTY
EMPLOYMENT POP/EMPLOYMENT RATIO HOUSEHOLDS/ EMPLOYMENT RATIO EMPLOYMENT (CHANGE) POP/EMPLOYMENT RATIO (CHANGE) HOUSEHOLDS /EMPLOYMENT RATIO (CHANGE) Camarillo is expected to grow by the highest percentage of population (27 81,238 1.36 0.52 Ventura 71,992 1.31 0.50 percent) by 2040, with Oxnard close behind (25 percent). Thousand Oaks is (13%) (4%) (4%) expected to grow at the lowest rate (nine percent) over the same period. 92,919 1.41 0.39 Oxnard 30,889 3.41 0.87 However, Oxnard is expected to add the most households (36 percent) and (201%) (‐59%) (‐55%) decrease its average people per household size by the largest amount (eight 10,409 7.49 2.83 Camarillo 9,282 6.60 2.48 percent decrease). Despite the forecasted increase in households, Oxnard retains (12%) (14%) (14%) the highest average people/household at 3.6. Thousand Oaks is forecast to see 80,583 1.56 0.55 Thousand Oaks 69,024 1.67 0.60 (17%) (‐7%) (‐8%) the least household growth in the study area by 2040 (seven percent). The 23,421 2.30 0.74 forecasted growth in jobs is by far most dramatic in Oxnard, with an increase of Unincorporated 17,274 2.62 0.85 (36%) (‐12%) (‐13%) 201 percent forecast. Of the 90,109 jobs expected to be added in the study area 288,570 1.73 0.59 by 2040, 62,030 (69 percent) will be in Oxnard. The next highest employment Total 198,461 2.12 0.72 (45%) (‐18%) (‐18%) growth percentage is in the unincorporated areas of the County (36 percent). The Data Source: VCTM least employment growth is forecast for Camarillo (12 percent).
With job growth expected to outpace population growth in the study area over the next 20 years, Oxnard (59 percent decrease), Thousand Oaks (seven percent decrease) and unincorporated areas of the County (12 percent decrease) are all expected to decrease their population to employment ratios. Oxnard may see the most significant change in commute patterns as a result, with more people commuting to a workplace within the city and/or fewer residents leaving the city to work in other areas. Ventura is forecast to increase its population to employment ratio slightly (four percent), while Camarillo’s ratio is expected to increase more significantly (14 percent).
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 34
summarized in Table 22. 3.2. Travel Market Table 22 – 2040 Daily Flow / Travel Patterns Within Study Area ORIGIN/ THOUSAND OTHER CAMARILLO OXNARD VENTURA Due to population and job growth, travel in the study area is expected to grow by DESTINATION OAKS DESTINATIONS approximately 11 percent by 2040. Approximately 2.8 million daily auto trips will Camarillo 64,000 15,000 6,000 13,000 48,000 be made every day by residents and employees in the County. Trips in the study Oxnard 15,000 184,000 23,000 6,000 116,000 area will continue to represent approximately half of all trips in Ventura County Ventura 6,000 23,000 259,000 2,000 74,542 as the county’s primary residential and job centers are expected to remain Thousand Oaks 13,000 5,000 2,000 227,000 136,328 concentrated within the four incorporated cities along the US 101 Corridor in Other Origins 49,000 115,000 74,000 139,000 43,649,000 Data Source: VCTM 2040. The majority of daily trips are expected to continue to be auto‐trips since the corridor area is anticipated to remain auto‐centric. Future mode split reflects In addition, approximately 14,000 daily through vehicle trips occur along the the lack of significant changes to transit and non‐motorized infrastructure due to corridor. This represents approximately an eight percent decline from the limited scopes of funded improvement projects. This means transit and non‐ Existing Conditions data. The remaining trips travel to or originate from outside motorized mode shares are not expected to change in the future as shown in of the study area (internal‐external and external‐internal trips). Approximately 27 Table 21. percent of trips stay within Ventura County, 11 percent are to/from Los Angeles
County and beyond, and two percent are to/from Santa Barbara County and Using the VCTM, 85 percent of daily trips are by car in the study area in both 2018 and 2040. High auto use is often found in suburban and rural areas with points west. Through daily trips using US 101 is estimated to grow by 15 percent low‐density land uses like the US 101 Corridor. Transit accounts for just half of to 14,000. These trip patterns are similar to those experienced in Existing one percent of daily trips. Notably, when examining auto trips, a sizable portion Conditions. The generalized origin and destination of auto trips are illustrated in of trips include carpoolers. 66 percent of auto trips are drive alone and 19 Figure 34. percent carpool, as shown in Table 21. The non‐motorized trips are approximately 15 percent of all daily trips. Figure 34 – Future Daily Auto Trips in and to/from the Corridor
Table 21 – 2018 and 2040 Mode of Travel Within Study Area MODE OF TRAVEL 2018 2040 Drive Alone 860,750 66% 947,000 66% Carpool 249,250 19% 277,000 19% Transit 6,025 0.5% 6,100 0.4% Non‐Motorized 190,250 15% 206,000 14% Total 1,306,275 100% 1,436,100 100%
Future daily auto trips were examined to gain insight into the future activity patterns of travelers in the region. Travel patterns between Existing Conditions and 2040 are expected to be similar. The majority (59 percent) of daily trips are internal‐internal trips, meaning they both originate and end within the corridor study area. This rate is slightly higher than the Existing Conditions trips (58 percent). For all corridor cities, city‐to‐city trip analysis shows the plurality of trips stay within each city (intra‐city trips). The largest city‐to‐city flow is between Oxnard and Ventura. 23,000 trips originate in Oxnard and end in Ventura – 1,000 fewer trips compared to the Existing Conditions – and 23,000
trips originate in Ventura and end in Oxnard each day – on par with the Existing Data Source: VCTM Conditions data. Daily flows of all trips between origin‐destination pairs are
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 35
3.3. Freeway and Arterials/Local Streets summarized in Table 24. As shown, VHT grows at a higher rate than VMT due to facilities reaching their operational capacity. AM and PM peak hour LOS on select Highway and arterial systems function as the backbone of the corridor’s overall freeways and arterials are illustrated in Figure 34 and Figure 36, respectively. transportation network and facilitates the movement of people and goods through Table 24 – Existing and Future Volumes the study area. As shown in Table 23, general purpose lanes will not be added to US 101 with exception of a few auxiliary lanes by 2040. The principal and minor EXISTING (2018) FUTURE (2040) % DIFFERENCE AVG. AVG. AVG. arterials lane miles are expected to grow by 4.5 and 1.6 percent, respectively. LOCATION VMT VHT SPEED VMT VHT SPEED VMT VHT SPEED
(MPH) (MPH) (MPH) Table 23 – Existing and Future Lane Miles US 101 4,965,000 98,000 50.7 5,315,000 116,000 45.8 7.0% 18.4% ‐9.6% TYPE EXISTING 2040 % CHANGE Freeway US 101 Freeway 286 288 0.0% Principal 3,086,000 83,000 37.2 3,672,000 100,000 36.7 19.0% 20.5% ‐1.2% Principal Arterials 872 911 4.5% Arterials Minor Arterials 379 385 1.6% Minor 589,000 20,000 29.5 705,000 25,000 28.2 19.7% 25.0% ‐4.2% Data Source: VCTM Arterials Data Source: VCTM VMT is a good indicator of total amount of travel, as it includes both the number of trips as well as the length of travel. Vehicle Hours Traveled (VHT) is also a good Figure 35 – Future AM LOS on Freeways and Arterials indicator of amount of travel as it provides information on total time spent traveling by persons and by a specific mode and/or facility. The corridor’s VMT and VHT are approximately 50 percent of the County’s VMT and VHT. Over half of all VMT in the study area in 2040 will be on US 101. VMT is projected to grow seven percent between Existing Conditions data and 2040 on US 101. Congestion on US 101 will increase in response to growth in travel demand and VMT. Portions of the highway are already over capacity during AM and PM peak periods (as stated in the Existing Conditions) and are expected to experience more constrained traffic operations in the future. Future VHT will be 18.4 percent higher in 2040 and average speed will fall 9.4 percent to 45.8 miles per hour.
Approximately 40 percent of all VMT in the study area in 2040 will be on principal arterials. Between Exiting Conditions and 2040, VMT will grow 19 percent on principal arterials, which is significantly faster than VMT increase on US 101. There will be a slight increase in congestion on principal arterials facilities. Future VHT will be 20.5 percent higher in 2040 and average speeds will fall 1.2 percent to 36.7 miles per hour. Data Source: VCTM Around seven percent of all VMT in the study area in 2040 will be on minor arterials. Similar to principal arterials, between Existing Conditions data and 2040, VMT is projected to grow 19.7 percent. There will be a slight increase in congestion on minor arterial facilities. Future VHT will be 25 percent higher in 2040 and average speeds will fall 4.2 percent to 29.5 miles per hour. Existing and future traffic volumes on the three main road facility types is
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 36
Figure 36 – Future PM LOS on Freeways and Arterials Table 25 – Existing and Future US 101 Volumes ADT LOCATION DIRECTION EXISTING FUTURE PERCENT (2018) (2040) GROWTH Between Westlake Blvd & NB 91,300 99,100 8.5% Thousand Oaks Blvd Between Westlake Blvd & SB 68,300 74,200 8.6% Thousand Oaks Blvd Between Lynn Rd & Wendy Dr NB 75,600 80,500 6.5% Between Lynn Rd & Wendy Dr SB 79,800 84,100 5.4% South of Santa Rosa Rd NB 64,800 69,700 7.6% South of Santa Rosa Rd SB 72,600 76,200 5.0% Between Del Norte Blvd & Rice Ave NB 59,000 65,400 10.8% Between Del Norte Blvd & Rice Ave SB 61,000 66,800 9.5% Between Ventura Rd & Victoria Ave NB 70,400 72,100 2.4% Between Ventura Rd & Victoria Ave SB 74,400 76,900 3.4% South of Ventura Ave SB 49,500 58,900 19.0% Data Source: PeMS; VCTM
Data Source: VCTM 3.3.2. Arterial/Local Streets By 2040, arterials and local streets in the corridor will see a higher rate of 3.3.1. Freeway increased travel demand compared to the freeway. VMT and VHT will increase By 2040, average daily trips on segments of US 101 will increase between 4 and on arterials and local streets due to a general increase in average daily trips and 24 percent on individual segments US 101across the study area. The segments increased congestion. Five of the most heavily used arterials in the study area that are expected to see the largest growth (24 percent) are near the will have an increase in average daily trips between 3.9 and 21.5 percent. It will employment centers in Ventura, Camarillo, and Thousand Oaks. The freeway is be important that local agencies both maintain existing arterials and local estimated to carry its highest volumes, over 200,000 daily trips, in Thousand Oaks streets while implementing improvements on roads that have exceeded or are on the east side of the corridor near SR 23, gradually decreasing to approximately reaching their capacity and considering transportation alternatives to offset 150,000 daily trips in mid‐corridor in Camarillo, and over 100,000 daily trips in increased demand. Ventura on the west side of the study area. The expected increase in trips will worsen traffic flow on the freeway system, particularly in Thousand Oaks and Table 26 – Existing and Future Arterial Volumes Camarillo where there are already congested conditions on various segments ADT during AM and PM peak periods as shown in Figure 35 and Figure 36. The Future ARTERIAL DIRECTION JURISDICTIONS EXISTING FUTURE % Conditions data shows there is less congestion on the western portion of the (2018) (2040) DIFFERENCE corridor; however, the significant increase in traffic on segments in Ventura and Victoria Avenue North‐South Ventura; Oxnard 44,900 47,700 6.2% Oxnard is expected to worsen traffic operations in that portion of the corridor in Rice Avenue North‐South Oxnard 36,700 44,600 21.5% the future. The Ventura area is forecasted to have the largest employment Santa Rosa Road East‐West Camarillo 22,100 23,100 4.5% growth in the study area. Operational or capacity enhancing improvements on US Harbor Boulevard North‐South Ventura; Oxnard 21,700 24,300 12.0% 101 can help accommodate the projected increase in travel demand while also Moorpark Road East‐West Thousand Oaks 20,700 21,500 3.9% Data Source: CMP; VCTM maintaining traffic flow. Table 25 presents a summary of existing and future US 101 traffic volumes.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 37
3.4. Transit and Active Transportation Unmet transit needs in the study area described in the VCTC FY 18‐19 Transit Needs Assessment report include: additional service and routes in Camarillo, improved service to Los Angeles County, and additional While travel in the corridor is expected to remain generally auto‐centric, transit service in the Gold Coast Transit District service area. and active transportation will continue to play a vital role in the corridor’s multi‐ Shortfalls in transit service in the study area identified in the SRTP modal transportation network, particularly by providing mobility for households include a gap in transit service between South Oxnard to Camarillo; lack or travelers with no or limited access to vehicles. Traditionally, these are low‐ of transit center in the vicinity of downtown Ventura, Ventura College, income households and elderly and disabled travelers. Transit and non‐motorized and Government Center; and upgrading facilities at Hill Road and Thille modes are expected to continue to represent approximately two to three Street transit stop. percent of trips under baseline conditions. Increasing congestion coupled with Assessments also show Ventura County transit operators face increasing intensifying land uses will produce additional opportunities for carpooling, operating costs and often focus on how to maintain service within transit, and non‐motorized travel mode investments to increase mode share in expected funding levels. The County’s Transit Asset Management (TAM) the corridor. The region and local agencies have made considerable strides to targets related to rolling stock, equipment, facilities, and infrastructure develop comprehensive transit and active transportation plans in the past assets are to maintain current conditions through 2045. decade. The region has taken preliminary steps to establish new services, fill Transit strategies that Ventura County has outlined in its Coordinated funding gaps, and implement improvement projects. Future transit and active Public Transit‐Human Services Transportation Plan include: addressing transportation plans and funding are discussed in the following sections. information gaps, building capacity to fill mobility gaps, coordinate fixed route schedules, improve transit affordability, increase capital and VCTC is currently leading a project called "Our Future 101" which is analyzing infrastructure investment to enhance safety and mobility, and improve potential project alternatives within the 101 corridor (along a twenty‐seven‐mile Dial‐A‐Ride service coordination. stretch between State Route 23 in Thousand Oaks to State Route 33 in Ventura). One of the project alternatives includes the potential to have a high occupancy The study area is served by Metrolink and Amtrak passenger rail service. The vehicle (HOV)/express bus lane along US 101. For suburban and rural areas with regional rail agencies and SCAG have several regional rail planning efforts. low‐density land uses, such as the US 101 corridor, an express bus lane has the Metrolink is governed by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) opportunity to create similar transit advancements that Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and the Amtrak service is governed by the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis brings to dense urban areas. Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency.
3.4.1. Transit and Rail SCRRA adopted a 2015 Strategic Assessment long‐range plan. Ventura County countywide transit plans can be found in the VCTC FY 18‐19 LOSSAN developed a Corridor‐wide Strategic Implementation Plan Transit Needs Assessment, Ventura County Short Range Transportation Plan which emphasizes train monitoring, train and connecting bus schedule (SRTP,2015), Ventura County Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP, 2013), adjustments, improved connectivity with local transit services, and Coordinated Public Transit‐Human Services Transportation Plan, 2016 equipment and crew utilization, response to service disruptions, and Revision. VCTC is in the process of updating the SRTP, and an update to the CTP is service planning. planned for Fiscal Year 2020/2021. The corridor’s transit operators are concerned LOSSAN also established the Pacific Surfliner South Service Development with expanding service, attracting additional riders, moving to zero‐emission Plan (May 2013) to address corridor sustainability. The plan is in vehicles and adopting new and improved technologies. In the wake of the COVID‐ response to operational threats to service including climate change. 19 global pandemic that emerged in early 2020, transit operators are also Regional rail strategies that SCAG has outlined in its long‐range plan concerned about continuing to meet essential transit service needs while include growing ridership, providing more frequent and new services, ensuring the health and safety of the traveling public as well as bus drivers and improving connectivity, and securing funding. other staff, in the face of anticipated reduced fare revenues and cuts to other funding sources.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 38
VCTC, in coordination with SCAG and local agencies, are programming Within the study area, two areas received a future High Quality Transit Area improvement projects into existing funding programs. The current FTIP includes (HQTA) designation from SCAG. SCAG defines HQTA as areas within one‐half mile both committed and financially constrained project lists for Ventura County. The of major transit stops and transit corridors based on the language in SB 375. The Solutions for Congested Corridors Program funding aims to fund transformative first corridor located in Ventura and Oxnard connects all of the Metrolink/Amtrak projects that make specific improvements designed to reduce congestion in rail stations and the areas around Victoria Avenue and Telegraph Road, which are highly traveled and highly congested corridors. Many of the projects on the well served by Gold Coast Transit District and VCTC Intercity bus service to meet Committed FTIP list currently qualify for funding because they expand or improve required transit headways. The second area is the half‐mile circle around the capacity, operational efficiency, safety, transit speed or reliability. The Financially Camarillo Metrolink/Amtrak rail station. Figure 37 shows the future SCAG HQTA. Constrained Project list is focused on expansion of services and facilities, with projects extending out for over 40 years. Committed transit projects have been Figure 37 – Future SCAG High Quality Transit Area (HQTA) grouped into the following categories:
Passenger Rail Projects Capital and Demonstration Projects Planning, Marketing and Other Services Operating Assistance
Passenger Rail Projects These projects improve or expand stations, sidings and undercrossing. There is also funding for system‐wide preventative maintenance and purchase of rolling stock. Key passenger rail projects include the Constrained Plan Pacific Surfliner (Amtrak) Project; Metrolink SCORE East Ventura Area Maintenance Facility Environmental, Design, and Property project; and Metrolink SCORE Ventura County Line Service Improvement and Capacity Study complementary system enhancement projects.
Capital and Demonstration Projects
Capital projects fund new and replacement transit vehicles, transit centers, new Source: SCAG transit technologies, bus stop improvements, shop equipment and electric charging infrastructure. Study area projects included in the 2019 FTIP include 3.4.2. Active Transportation purchasing paratransit vehicles. Active and low‐speed transportation, including walking, cycling, scooters, and neighborhood electric vehicles will continue to be an important and growing part Planning, Marketing and Other Services of the Ventura County multi‐modal transportation system. These modes will These projects cover on‐going planning and marketing efforts, including outreach continue to play similar roles in the transportation system in the future as the and passenger awareness. System improvements such as fare collection, active transportation network grows more robust. Expansion of active and low‐ automatic vehicle location and ridership monitoring are also included. speed transportation facilities will continue to connect travelers to nearby activity centers, add routes for workers to commute to workplaces, and provide Operating Assistance opportunities for physical activity. Furthermore, as the transit system continues These projects fund operating assistance for fixed‐route and demand‐response to evolve, active transportation will remain key to supporting transit riders as services. many transit trips start and/or end on foot.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 39
Oxnard Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities Master Plan; City of Thousand Oaks Proposed Bicycle Improvements A variety of improvements to active transportation facilities are planned Figure 38 – Future Bikeway Facilities throughout the corridor. Many proposed facility improvements target gaps in the existing pedestrian and bike network. Study area projects included in the 2019 FTIP include pedestrian improvements, improvements to close bikeway and sidewalk gaps, and adding bikeways.
The County and each jurisdiction have also undertaken various comprehensive planning efforts directly addressing active transportation. Ventura County has existing county‐wide active transportation plans such as the Ventura County Bike Plan (2007), County of Ventura Strategic Master Plan (2012), and the VCTC Bicycle Wayfinding Plan (2017). Each jurisdiction in the study area also has active transportation plans, such as the City of Camarillo Bikeway Master Plan (2017), City of Oxnard Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (2011), City of Thousand Oaks Bicycle Master Plan (2010), and the City of Ventura Bicycle Master Plan (2011). The City of Oxnard has also developed an Oxnard Corridor Community Transportation Improvement Plan, including Complete Streets upgrades to Oxnard Boulevard. Other major arterials with proposed future active transportation improvements include Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Hillcrest Drive, 5th Street, Victoria Avenue, Thompson Boulevard, Telephone Road, and Carmen Drive. Data Source: 2011 Ventura Bicycle Master Plan; Camarillo General Plan Circulation Element; City of Oxnard Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities Master Plan; City of Thousand Oaks Proposed Bicycle Collectively, plans call for approximately 162 miles of new bikeway facilities to be Improvements added to the 299 miles of existing bikeway facilities within the study area by 2040, including 53 miles of Class I facilities – multi‐use paths, often referred to as 3.4.3. Transportation Safety bicycle paths physically separated from motor vehicle routes. Future Class I Continued population and economic growth will increase demand on many of our facilities are primarily planned in the cities of Ventura and Oxnard. Facilities will existing roadways, increasing traffic density and making safety more critical than improve accessibility within each city and improve connectivity between the ever for the diverse population who use the multimodal transportation network cities. Camarillo also plans Class I facilities that improve connectivity within the daily. As established and shown in a wide range of literature, VMT and number of city. Plans also call for 65 miles of Class II facilities – bicycle lanes providing collisions have a direct relationship, and VMT increase results in a rise in collisions exclusive space for cyclists on roadways – and 44 miles of Class III facilities – and deaths. The VMT is expected to grow in the study area by 12 percent, bicycle routes designated by signage and painted “sharrows” in vehicle lanes. resulting in a similar increase in number of collisions. Table 27 shows miles of future bikeways in the study area. Figure 38 depicts future bikeway facilities in Ventura County. Traffic related fatalities and serious injuries are critical and preventable public health and social equity issues. Providing a safe transportation network is Table 27 – Growth in Miles of Future Bikeways (2012 to 2040) essential to meet economic, housing, environmental, equity, and public health BICYCLE FACILITY TYPE STUDY AREA goals, and will require optimizing the existing system to have a safer Class I 53 multimodal transportation network. In 2015, the California Department of Class II 65 Transportation released an update to the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) Class III 44 to reduce and mitigate the effects of accidents/incidents on traffic flow and Class IV 0 efficiency. The SHSP recommends that the four “E”s of transportation safety – Total 162 Data Source: 2011 Ventura Bicycle Master Plan; Camarillo General Plan Circulation Element; City of engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency response – become an
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 40
integral part of the transportation safety program. The safety program should expecting significant job growth, workers may be denied access to regional job also support the Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) vision, a national strategy on centers either by lengthy commutes or lack of multi‐mobility options. Employers highway safety that provides a framework for traffic safety planning efforts. may have to consider a limited employment base. The SHSP goals are as follows: Planning for a robust multi‐modal transportation network and securing funding A three percent per year reduction for the number and rate of fatalities for improvement projects will play a key role in cultivating an improved US 101 A 1.5 percent per year reduction for the number and rate of severe corridor in the future. injuries Findings from the Future Conditions analysis include: The Ventura County Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) is in the process of implementing a Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) program for the County’s Land use planning ordinances, policies, and guidelines in the corridor highway network. The FSP program provides roving tow and/or service trucks on will direct population and employment growth largely within the highway network during peak traffic periods for rapid clearing of disabled neighborhoods proximate to the current highest intensities of existing vehicles and motorist assistance. The implementation of FSP is conducted development in the corridor. through a partnership between Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), and Population and job growth will occur throughout the urbanized areas of a local transportation agency such as SAFE. Two FSP beats are planned for US 101 the corridor. In the future, residents of Camarillo and Oxnard will within the study area to begin in December 2020, and a third beat will serve State represent a larger share of the corridor population and jobs in Ventura Route‐118 outside of the study area. The program will strive to improve the and Oxnard will represent a larger share of the corridor employment. safety of US 101 by reducing the amount of time that motorists and vehicles The City of Oxnard is expecting to triple the number of jobs by 2040. spend on the side of the road or disabled within freeway lanes, reducing Due to a slightly improved jobs‐housing balance, there will be a modest opportunities for secondary incidents and improving traffic operations. growth in travel volumes. However, the modest growth in will lead to increased congestion for vehicles on roadways that are currently at or 3.5. Future Challenges have exceeded capacity during peak travel periods. The area with the most significant congestion for vehicles will continue Over the next two decades, travel patterns in the study area are projected to be to be on US 101 in the Thousand Oaks area. similar to Existing Conditions due to focused population and employment growth. Planned transit and active transportation improvements will improve The corridor area is unique in the Southern California region in that existing land accessibility and travel time for non‐vehicle trips in Future Conditions. use planning ordinances, policies, and guidelines in Ventura County and Notably, the County and local jurisdictions have planned 162 new miles incorporated cities limit growth outside of existing urban boundaries. Despite the of bikeways. limited growth, the future transportation network still has many of the deficiencies identified under Existing Conditions. This means the current set of funded transportation projects is insufficient in meeting future transportation demand.
The existing and future transportation challenges will continue to have a direct negative impact on corridor travelers through increased travel times, limited multi‐modal network connectivity, and unsafe roadways. Continued reliance on private auto has negative externalities on the corridor community (and global environment) through air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Over time, the limitations of the transportation network could potentially have a negative effect on the region’s public health and economic progress. Though the corridor is
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 41
4 PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS
The path toward living in a sustainable community relies on a transportation system that provides residents and workers the means to conduct their daily activities with minimal time spent traveling. Based on the public input, a sustainable transportation system needs to reduce congestion and delay while improving safety and health, be equitable, and protect sensitive habitat and open space. A sustainable transportation system requires a balance between the transportation network, service supply, and daily trip demand. At the same time, a sustainable transportation system aims to reduce vehicle miles travelled and reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to transportation.
Decades of investment focused on the roadway system to improve auto travel included a set of strategies known as Transportation System Management (TSM) and Transportation Demand Management (TDM). TSM strategies are designed to maximize the efficiency of the existing transportation system by improving roadway throughput, reducing bottlenecks and chokepoints by implementing relatively low cost projects, such as traffic signal timing, ramp metering, complete streets, traffic management through Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies, High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, and interchange/intersection improvements. In recent years, the concepts of transportation asset efficiency have been applied to other modes of travel to improve their utilization and service. TDM programs are aimed at reducing vehicle trips, particularly at peak commute hours, by promoting strategies, including but not limited to, encouraging rideshare and carpooling, staggered work shifts, and other mode shifts, telecommuting from home, and transit usage. Once considered “alternative” transportation due to the primacy of auto travel, investments in multimodal transportation have increased, acknowledging other forms of travel are not only as important, but more sustainable and sometimes more practical than single occupancy vehicle travel. Employers and employees have been quick to invest in and adapt to telecommuting as a result of stay‐at‐home and social distancing mandates related to the COVID‐19 pandemic.
4.1. Project and Program List Sources
To assemble a complete list of TSM projects and TDM programs, US 101 Communities Connected evaluated multiple sources to identify planned projects and programs. First, the 2020 SCAG Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) identifies funding for all major transportation projects in the Southern California region which add capacity to the transportation system or receive federal funding. The RTP/SCS provided the basis for organizing planned projects by their funding status. SCAG organizes planned projects by funding status in the following categories:
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 42
Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP) projects – funding Non‐roadway projects primarily benefit transit, passenger rail, and active needs programmed and secured over the next six‐year period. transportation (pedestrian and bicycle) users and include planning and Financially‐Constrained projects – high‐priority projects identified for administrative efforts to support the multimodal transportation system. The sub‐ future funding under a 30‐year funding forecast. categories for non‐roadway projects include: Strategic projects – long‐term potential projects to be pursued if additional funding is identified. Capital and demonstration projects o Demonstration projects From this initial list of major projects, VCTC and each of the cities within the o Other capital projects study area refined the projects and identified any ongoing or planned projects o Multi‐purpose/grouped projects which were outside the scope of SCAG’s lists. Capital Improvement Programs Passenger rail projects (CIPs) and Active Transportation Programs (ATPs) from each city provided a Planning, marketing, and other services source for a majority of additional projects evaluated for US 101 Communities o Planning and marketing Connected. Projects were reviewed to ensure completed or cancelled projects o Operating assistance were removed from the list and to verify the accuracy of estimated cost and o Other services project completion years. Vehicle purchase and lease Travel demand management o Telecommuting 4.2. Project and Program List o Incentives for transit and alternate modes Categorization Active transportation o Pedestrian facilities The compiled project list is organized based on project type into “roadway” and o Bicycle facilities “non‐roadway” projects, and by funding status, in a manner similar to the SCAG RTP/SCS, into “funded” and “un‐funded” projects categories. Funded projects Appendix A provides a complete list of multimodal projects and programs. include those included in the FTIP and most projects listed within the city CIPs. Unfunded projects include those from the RTP/SCS listed as “Financially 4.2.1. Funded Roadway Projects and Programs Constrained” which are defined as committed projects with reasonable available The total estimated cost of all funded roadway projects within the study area is funding and CIP projects that lack total funding. Strategic projects listed in the approximately $396 million, with the auxiliary lanes projects along US 101 RTP/SCS were not included in this analysis as they need additional funding and between Pleasant Valley Road/Santa Rosa Road and Central Avenue in Camarillo commitment. accounting for the majority of this total. The grade separation project along the
Union Pacific Railroad tracks at Rice Avenue near 5th Street in Oxnard, the site of Roadway and non‐roadway projects were further organized into sub‐categories based on project type. Roadway projects include any type of infrastructure several train‐vehicle collisions, is another project of special note. Figure 31 project that primarily benefits vehicular travel. The sub‐categories for roadway exhibits funded roadway projects, and Table 19 tallies their total overall costs. projects include: Table 19 – Funded Roadway Projects Summary Auxiliary lanes PROJECT CATEGORY COST ($1,000’s) Bridge improvement Auxiliary Lanes $232,175 Capacity enhancement Capacity Enhancement $6,735 Grade separation Grade Separation $79,192 HOV lanes Interchange Improvement $65,988 Interchange improvement Intersection Improvement $11,866 Intersection improvement Total $395,956 Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 43
Figure 31- Funded Roadway Projects
PROJECT CATEGORY COST ($1,000’s) 4.2.2. Funded Non-Roadway Projects and Programs Capital and Demonstration Projects $39,441 The total estimated cost of all funded non‐roadway corridor projects is Passenger and Rail Projects $93,290 approximately $414 million, with about half of the total from active transportation Planning, Marketing and Other Services $61,617 investments and half for transit investments. The transit investments are composed Vehicle Purchase and Lease $13,284 of passenger rail and transit infrastructure projects and transit vehicle purchases Active Transportation $206,677 and leases. Unlike funded roadway projects, which are concentrated in a few areas, Total $414,309 the funded non‐roadway projects are distributed throughout the study area. Examples include improvements to transit and passenger rail facilities in Thousand Oaks and Camarillo, an improved transit corridor along Ventura Road, and numerous active transportation projects in Oxnard, Ventura, and unincorporated Ventura County. It is important to keep in mind that many non‐roadway projects are not specific to one geographical location and therefore serve various areas throughout the corridor. Figure 32 presents funded non‐roadway projects, and Table 20 tallies their total overall costs.
Table 20 – Funded Non-Roadway Projects Summary
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 44
Figure 32 – Funded Non-Roadway Projects
4.2.3. Unfunded Roadway Projects and Programs Table 21 – Un-funded Roadway Projects Summary The total estimated cost of all un‐funded planned roadway projects is PROJECT CATEGORY COST ($1,000’s) approximately $1.35 billion. With the exception of the HOV lanes that run the Capacity Enhancement $256,865 length of the study area, the majority of unfunded roadway projects are Grade Separation/Bridge Improvement $233,272 concentrated in the west of the study area in Oxnard and Ventura. These include HOV Lanes $700,000 several lengthy roadway widening and extension projects, three grade Interchange Improvement $56,700 separations along railroad tracks in Oxnard, an interchange improvement at US Intersection Improvement $104,476 101 at Del Norte Boulevard, and improvements to the Main Street Bridge in Total $1,351,313 Ventura. Figure 33 maps unfunded roadway projects, and Table 21 tallies their total overall costs.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 45
Figure 33 – Unfunded Roadway Projects
US 101 Communities Connected Study and Our Future 101
US 101 Communities Connected is one of two extensive studies currently conducted by VCTC for the US 101 corridor. The other study is the US 101 HOV PAED study called Our Future 101. US 101 Communities Connected is a general and high‐level analysis of the broader three‐mile radius around US 101, which analyzes the freeway as well as road, bike, walk, and transit facilities and services in the corridor. This study analyzes a large list of potential multi‐modal projects in the corridor. Our Future 101 is a specific study for specific highway improvements on US 101. Our Future 101 is an alternatives analysis, preliminary design, and environmental assessment for specific highway improvements including adding general purposes lanes, HOV/bus express lanes, auxiliary lanes, and/or ramps. Additional information regarding the PAED study can be found at OurFuture101.org.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 46
4.2.4. Unfunded Non-Roadway Projects and Programs Figure 34 presents unfunded non‐roadway projects, and Table 22 tallies are their The total estimated cost of all unfunded non‐roadway projects is approximately total overall costs. $440 million, which includes transit service expansion, operations and maintenance, zero and low emission vehicle fleets, and Metrolink passenger rail Table 22 – Un-funded Non-Roadway Projects Summary improvements. PROJECT CATEGORY COST ($1,000’s) Active Transportation $67,997 Unfunded, non‐roadway projects in specific geographic locations include active Travel Demand Management $31,453 transportation improvements along Central Avenue and the Springville Drive Bike Passenger and Rail Projects $106,014 Trail in Camarillo, the Santa Paula Branch Line Recreational Trail stretching from Capital and Demonstration Projects $120,031 Montalvo in Ventura toward Santa Paula, and a multimodal transportation center Planning, Marketing and Other Services $115,330 in Downtown Ventura. Total $440,825
Figure 34 – Unfunded Non-Roadway Projects
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 47
5 PUBLIC OUTREACH
Public participation is a key component of the US 101 Communities Connected Study, and a comprehensive public involvement process is crucial to the success of this project. A public outreach plan is developed and conducted through interactive community workshops, digital engagement and targeted outreach to community‐based organizations within the project corridor. The outreach program goals are as follows:
Educate the public about the US 101 Communities Connected Study purpose and the role it will play in Ventura County’s transportation future, and Solicit input from stakeholders, including special needs populations and disadvantaged communities, on transportation needs and priorities in the US 101 Corridor.
The US 101 Communities Connected Study outreach program is composed of the following tactical elements:
Community contact database Online survey tool Digital outreach In‐person public workshops Webpage Online public workshops Digital campaigns Public comments summary
5.1. Community Contact Database
As one of the first tasks, the project team compiled a community database for the US 101 Communities Connected Study area. The outreach group identified and updated existing databases, which included information of groups who represent low‐income and special needs communities. The database serves as the project’s ever‐growing email list and was used to distribute meeting invitations, project updates and other important information.
Engaging community‐based organizations is an important part of the US 101 Communities Connected Outreach process. Early in the project, a database of key organizations was compiled, including organizations serving each city in the study area as well as those serving Ventura County as a whole. Organizations in the database fell into the following basic categories: social services, children and families, environmental, business, agriculture, community development and planning, bicycle advocacy, and civic groups, such as neighborhood councils, Rotary Clubs, etc. In the month leading up to the public workshops, each organization on the list received four emails with information to share with constituents, an online survey and reminders about workshop dates and locations.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 48
In addition, the project team in consultation with VCTC staff narrowed down the 5.4. Digital Campaigns database to approximately 30 organizations whose missions are most closely aligned with the topics covered in the US 101 communities Connected study. The online survey tool and public meetings were successful because the These organizations received personal follow‐up calls or personal emails from community was aware of them and was encouraged to participate. An VCTC or consultant staff. They were also tagged in social media posts on engagement campaign was conducted through VCTC’s Facebook, Instagram and Facebook and Instagram. Finally, VCTC staff gave in‐person presentations to email (Mail Chimp) accounts to drive traffic to the survey tool and encourage the groups that requested additional information. public to share their opinions. A total of 212 comments were collected over a period of 29 days concerning the various modes of transportation in the corridor, 5.2. Digital Outreach including freeway, arterial, bike/pedestrian, bus, and rail modes. Comments received also described safety issues and proposed solutions. Strategic use of Alongside in‐person and online public meetings, a digital outreach process paid and organic social media and email increased the visibility of the public ensures that key community organizations are updated on the project and their process and the amount of feedback received. opportunities for public involvement. The outreach team sent email blasts to organizations at important project milestones. Project documents, graphics, 5.5. Online Survey Tool and other resources (in both English and Spanish) were sent to organizations to use on their websites, bulletin boards, and social media channels. Social media Prior to the first round of the public meetings, an online survey tool was set up to tagging further engaged key organizations and their constituents on Facebook collect public input on the study. The survey tool, which was available in both and Instagram. Spanish and English, allowed users to submit their feedback, even if they were
not able to attend the public meetings in person. During the survey, the 5.3. Webpage participants were asked to rank the five goals of the projects in order of their importance to the survey participant. As shown in Table 23, the top two goals of A project webpage was created on VCTC’s website, most concern to the attendees were safety/health and multimodal mobility. www.goventura.org/101communities, as shown in Figure 35. The page served as a public repository of all project information, including project overview, Table 23 – Online Survey Results schedule, FAQs, public meeting information, online survey tool, comment form, GOAL RANK contact information, and downloadable materials. Safety/Health 1 Multimodal Mobility 2 Figure 35 – Communities Connected Website Improve Economy 3 Environmental Stewardship 4 Social Equity 5
5.6. Public Workshops
Initially, four in‐person public workshops were planned as part of the outreach plan. The first two workshops occurred in January 2020 as planned. The second two workshops were scheduled to occur in July 2020. However, due to the stay‐ at‐home and social distancing mandates related to COVID‐19, the outreach plan had to be modified. The July workshops were re‐designed as one online workshops and funds were re‐directed to enhance the digital outreach campaign.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 49
5.6.1. In-Person Workshops Additional resources were allocated to the digital outreach campaign after the The two in‐person public workshops in January 2020 were held in the cities of online workshop was published online to ensure stakeholders had an opportunity Ventura and Camarillo to provide more than one option for community members to participate in the feedback process. to attend and allow locations generally on the east and west parts of the corridor, respectively. Both locations were public transit and ADA‐accessible. The workshops 5.7. Public Comments Summary included a short presentation, and interactive stations where participants had a chance to speak with project team members and explore various aspects of the Ventura County residents and stakeholders submitted comments via email, study in more detail. online survey, paper survey, social media comments, as well as orally at the public workshops. All comment forms were made available in English and Participants were also able to provide their feedback in a variety of formats. Spanish. The following is a breakdown of the public input that was received: Materials were provided in English and Spanish. During the second half of the workshop, participants were given 10 $10 bills ($100) in “Transportation Source o 24 from Ventura Meeting (11%) Dollars” (play money). They were invited to spend this money on different o 20 from Camarillo Meeting (9%) goals and help rank these goals including social equity, environmental o 12 from social media (6%) stewardship, multimodal mobility, safety and health, and economy. As shown o 149 from online survey (70%) in Table 24, the goals receiving the highest ranking included social equity, o 7 from email (4%) multimodal mobility and safety. Language: English vs. Spanish o 206 English (97%) o 6 Spanish (3%) Table 24 – Goal Ranking Results from the Public Meetings Method: Digital vs. In‐Person o 44 In‐Person (20%) GOAL RANK o 168 Digital (80%) Social Equity 29%
Multimodal Mobility 29% Each comment was reviewed, and key areas of concern were identified. Table 25 Safety & Health 17% presents a summary of comments. As shown in Table 26, nearly half of all Environmental Stewardship 16% comments were about bottlenecks and congestion on US 101 Freeway. Many of Improve Economy 9% the comments regarding transit were about expanding the services as shown in Total 100% Table 27. Transit related comments were shared with VCTC transit staff to incorporate in their annual Unmet Transit Needs process. Bike and pedestrian 5.6.2. Online Workshops comments were predominantly about closing gaps and expanding the bike lanes The initial outreach plan was to hold two additional in‐person public workshops in as shown in Table 28. the cities of Oxnard and Thousand Oaks in July 2020. However, in‐person workshops became unfeasible due to stay‐at‐home and social distancing mandates Table 25 – Comments Received from Public related to the COVID‐19 pandemic. The public outreach strategy shifted to holding COMMENT # OF COMMENTS PERCENTAGE an online workshop. Information that was planned to be shared at the July in‐ US 101 Freeway 99 47% person workshops was re‐imagined for the digital/online format. VCTC staff Transit 43 20% recorded short video presentations to explain the purpose and overall substance of Bike/Pedestrian 37 17% the US 101 Communities Connected study. Online attendees were given the option Rail 12 6% to watch additional video presentations discussing detailed study analysis and Multimodal 16 8% findings. Online attendees were invited to review the digital draft of the report and Arterials 5 2% provide written feedback via email. Total 212 100%
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 50
Table 26 – Comments on US 101 Freeway COMMENT # OF COMMENTS PERCENTAGE Bottlenecks 47 48% Traffic Congestion 36 36% Others 16 16% Total 99 100%
Table 27 – Comments on Transit COMMENT # OF COMMENTS PERCENTAGE Expand Services 32 74% Others 11 26% Total 43 100%
Table 28 – Comments on ATP (Bike/Pedestrian) COMMENT # OF COMMENTS PERCENTAGE Close Gaps/Expand Bike Network 20 54% Safety 9 24% Others 8 22% Total 37 100%
5.8. Study Response to Comments
Public and stakeholder feedback from were incorporated in the study through the corridor’s performance evaluation framework. The goals and performance measure were scoped so performance objectives and metrics were better aligned with stakeholder funding priorities, areas of concern, and unmet transportation needs. Projects included in the study were evaluated to identify which projects had design components that addressed stakeholder areas of concern and unmet transportation needs.
Comments and survey responses regarding funding prioritization were particularly important in designing the performance evaluation framework because a key outcome of the 101 Community Connected study is to recommend projects for transportation funding. Stakeholder’s recommendation to prioritize Safety & Health, Multi‐Modal Mobility, and Social Equity goal areas is reflected in the project Communities Connected Index (CCI) score, which is part of the evaluation framework. Projects that are likely to have positive impacts on these goal areas are given a higher CCI score. Projects with higher CCI scores are more aligned with stakeholders’ vision for the future of the US 101 Corridor. The role of public input in the performance evaluation process is discussed in further detail in the following chapter.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 51
6 PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FRAMEWORK
The 101 Communities Connected team developed a corridor performance framework to evaluate the potential performance of the projects and programs considered for the corridor in a multimodal context. The framework is intended to evaluate expected outcomes and effects of the projects and programs on the transportation system once they are implemented using a set of performance measures. A wide range of performance measures were initially considered for use in the study, but the final set of measures were selected based on their measurability and relevance to the study.
Measurability of a performance measure is determined by needs and requirements to conduct quantitative and qualitative analyses. Relevance of a performance measure is determined by performance measure’s applicability to the established goals and principles for US 101 Communities Connected. Particular emphasis is placed on the multimodal nature of the study to ensure that the selected performance measures go beyond the traditional auto‐centric measures.
The performance measures also support existing State, regional, and local policies and goals including those listed in the California Transportation Commission (CTC) 2018 Comprehensive Multimodal Corridor Plan Guidelines. The performance measures are also consistent with the SCAG 2020‐2045 RTP, Connect SoCal, regional goals and VCTC’s CTP (2013) vision statement to have “A connected and integrated transportation system that provides convenient, safe and accessible options.” They also respond to stakeholder feedback collected from the public outreach process. The performance measures considered for US 101 Communities Connected are as follows:
Safety – Increase safety for motorized and non‐motorized users Health – Improve opportunities for healthy lifestyles Air Quality – Reduce criteria pollutants and advance the State’s air quality goals Disadvantaged Communities – Project is located in a disadvantaged community Congestion/VMT Reduction – Minimize vehicle miles traveled Person Throughput – Maximize person throughput in the corridor Accessibility – Improve accessibility and connectivity for residents and non‐residents; close existing gap in transit and active transportation Economic Development – Support economic development and access to employment GHGs – Reduce GHG emissions and advance the State’s air quality and climate goals Efficient Land Use: o Transit Proximity – Half mile of major transit stop or HQTA o Low‐VMT Zone – VMT per household is 15 percent below regional average o High Accident Locations – Accidents are 50 percent above the corridor average
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 52
Figure 36 illustrates the relationship of performance measures andthe US 101 Figure 37 – Evaluation Process Communities Connected goals and principles.
Figure 36 – Communities Connected Goals & Performance Measures
Safety & Social Multimodal Robust Environmental Health Equity Mobility Economy Stewardship
Congestion Reduction/ Safety VMT GHG Person Throughput Health Transit Proximity Efficient Economic Development Land Disadvantaged Communities Air Quality Use Accessibility
6.1. Project and Program Evaluation The outcome of the evaluation is to identify which projects – or subset of projects – support certain performance measures and corridor goals. This information is Methodology useful for prioritizing project and program funding and developing the most appropriate funding scenarios to help move the corridor toward a sustainable Projects and programs from the study list are evaluated against performance and efficient multimodal transportation system. Performance evaluation results measures based on how strongly they support the goals and principles of the may also provide insight into areas where current projects are less successful at project. The evaluation process is comprised of categorizing the projects into achieving Communities Connected goals and identify areas where new strategies subtypes and funding availability, performing qualitative and quantitative might strengthen future mobility and land use planning efforts. analyses and determining the project or program score across all performance measures as shown in Figure 37. Projects and programs are ranked for each Appendix B provides a detailed description and evaluation criteria for each performance measure as high, medium, low, and no positive impact. The performance measure. Evaluation criteria are developed largely based on rankings are then converted to a numeric score on a scale from one to 10, with a recommendations listed in the CTC 2018 Comprehensive Multimodal Corridor score of one representing no positive impact, four representing low impact, Plan Guidelines and Caltrans 2020 Corridor Planning Process Guide. seven medium impact, and ten as high impact.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 53
6.2. Results Table 29 – Summary of Performance Measure Results AVERAGE SCORE ACROSS PROJECTS PERFORMANCE GOAL PURPOSE FUNDED + Performance results across all performance measures for projects vary widely MEASURE FUNDED UNFUNDED UNFUNDED given the diversity of the types of projects included in the study. Appendix C Increase safety for provides detailed analysis of scores for each performance measure. Figure 38 and 1 Safety motorized and non‐ 6.3 6.8 6.5 Table 29 presents a summary of project scores of each performance measure for motorized users various categories of projects. Opportunities for 2 Health 4.1 3.1 3.8 healthy lifestyles Health Figure 38 – Summary of Performance Measure Results Safety & Reduce criteria pollutants and 3 Air Quality 4.8 3.8 4.6 7 advance the Sate’s air quality goals 6 Balance Disadvantaged transportation,
Social 4 1.5 2.8 1.9 5 Equity Communities environment and community 4 Congestion/ 5 Minimize VMT 2.6 2.8 2.7 VMT Reduction 3 Maximize person Person 6 throughput in the 4.4 5.7 4.8 Throughput 2 corridor Transit Improve access to 1 Mobility 7 1.4 1.7 1.5 Multimodal Proximity transit Average Score Across All Projects Improves accessibility 0 and connectivity for 8 Accessibility 5.4 6.2 5.6 travelers; close gaps in the network
st Economic Support economic Rob
E 9 2.4 3.0 2.5 Development development Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and 10 GHG 4.8 3.8 4.6 advance the State’s climate goals Improve Funded Unfunded Funded + Unfunded Efficient Land 11 transportation in low 3.2 4.7 3.6 Use Environmental Stewardship VMT areas
Some key findings from the performance measure evaluation are summarized as follows:
On average, Safety and Accessibility are the top two scoring performance measures with average scores of 6.5 and 5.5 for all projects, respectively.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 54
The lower scoring performance measures are Transit Proximity and 6.3. Goal Areas Disadvantaged Communities reflecting lack of projects located within the two geographic areas related to these measures. Performance measures can be aggregated by each goal area to calculate a goal All study projects have a positive impact on Safety. score. These scores identify projects that are most effective or impactful in Active transportation projects are likely to have a positive impact on selected goal areas and can be effective for prioritizing transportation funding to Health and Air Quality, while Arterial/Highway projects all have no target specific corridor goals. Figure 39 and Table 30 present a summary of positive impact, or a low impact, based on these measures. project scores for each goal area. The goal score is the average of all relevant Most projects in the study are not located within a disadvantaged performance measure scores. community, and therefore have no positive impact on the
Disadvantaged Communities performance measure. Similarly, few Figure 39 – Summary of Average Goal Area Results projects are located proximate to transit stations and therefore have no positive impact on the Transit Proximity performance measure. These 6 results reveal opportunity areas to improve corridor performance in future planning. 5 No project in the study has a high impact on reducing congestion/VMT 4 or increasing person throughput. This reflects limited opportunities to improve congestion/VMT and person throughput. This finding is typical 3 of established areas, such as the US 101 Corridor, which already have 2 extensive transportation systems. Projects that perform better on the Congestion/VMT Reduction 1 performance measure are related to TDM programs such as telecommuting and transit projects. Telecommuting is currently about 5 0 percent in the study area. A higher percentage of telecommuting will Safety & Social Equity Multi‐Modal Robust Environmental
Average Score Across All Projects Health Mobility Economy Stewardship reduce congestion and VMT during the highest congested traffic hours of day. Funded Unfunded Funded + Unfunded More than 80 percent of all projects have a positive impact on Accessibility. Table 30 – Summary of Average Goal Area Results More than half of the projects do not have a positive impact on Economic Development. Projects that performed well were a mix of AVERAGE SCORE ACROSS PROJECTS GOAL FUNDED & arterial, highway, and active transportation projects that are likely to FUNDED UNFUNDED address goods movement or improve access to jobs. UNFUNDED Safety and Health 5.1 4.6 4.9 Over 70 percent of projects have an effect on reducing greenhouse gas Social Equity 1.5 2.8 1.9 emissions. All active transportation projects score high on the GHG Multimodal Mobility 3.4 4.1 3.6 performance measure. Robust Economy 2.4 3.0 2.5
20 percent of all projects are located in low‐VMT areas meaning they Environmental Stewardship 4.0 4.3 4.1 have a positive impact on Efficient Land Use.
When comparing funded and unfunded project packages, it was shown
that unfunded projects have a positive impact on overall project
performance across all projects in the study for the performance
measures of Safety, Disadvantaged Communities, Congestion/VMT Reduction, Person Throughput, Transit Proximity, Accessibility, Economic Development, and Efficient Land Use.
VCTC US 101 Communities Connected Study | 55
6.4. Total Project Score and Communities projects tend to address many aspects of the Safety & Health goal area. Although arterial projects in the list are generally widening improvement projects, many Connected Index arterial projects also include safety countermeasure for not only motorists, but also bicyclists and pedestrians. These types of projects have higher CCI. Of the 24 A total project score is calculated for each project to measure the project’s projects with the highest CCI, over 60 percent are active transportation projects, impact across all goal areas by summing the Goal Area scores and scaling it from 30 percent are arterial projects, and the remaining are highway or transit 0 to 100. To further incorporate stakeholder priorities in the evaluation process, a projects. Communities Connected Index (CCI) is calculated for all projects. CCI is similar to the total project score, except that stakeholder priorities were given greater Figure 42 to Figure 45 summarizes project cost against CCI for individual projects weight in the scoring. The Safety & Health, Social Equity, and Multi‐Modal by project type. In general, active transportation projects perform the best Mobility goal areas are valued higher in the CCI because they were identified as among the project type categories. stakeholder priorities during public workshops, online surveys, and other feedback from the public. This means projects that address stakeholder priorities will have a higher CCI. Similar to the total project score, CCI is also scaled from 0 to 100. CCI is calculated using the following formula: